Energy distribution of runaway electrons generated by a nanosecond discharge in atmospheric-pressure air

Journal Article · Mon Dec 15 00:00:00 EST 2008 · Plasma Physics Reports

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1134/S1063780X08120064· OSTI ID:21399934

Tarasenko, V F; Baksht, E Kh; Burachenko, A G; Kostyrya, I D; Lomaev, M I; Petin, V K; Rybka, D V; Shlyakhtun, S V ^[1]

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1. Russian Academy of Sciences, High-Current Electronics Institute, Siberian Branch (Russian Federation)

The spectra of an ultrashort avalanche electron beam generated by a nanosecond discharge in atmospheric-pressure air were investigated. The temporal characteristics of the beam current pulses, gap voltage, and discharge current in a gas diode were measured with a time resolution of {approx}0.1 ns. A simple technique was developed for recovering electron spectra from the curves of beam attenuation by aluminum foils. The effect of the cathode design, electrode gap length, and generator parameters on the electron spectra were studied using seven setups. It is shown that generation of electrons with anomalously high energies requires the use of cathodes with increased curvature radius.

• OSTI ID: 21399934
• Journal Information: Plasma Physics Reports, Vol. 34, Issue 12; Other Information: DOI: 10.1134/S1063780X08120064; Copyright (c) 2008 Pleiades Publishing, Ltd.; ISSN 1063-780X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
AIR
ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE
BEAM CURRENTS
CATHODES
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
ELECTRON BEAMS
ELECTRON SPECTRA
ENERGY SPECTRA
RUNAWAY ELECTRONS
BEAMS
CURRENTS
ELECTRODES
ELECTRONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FERMIONS
FLUIDS
GASES
LEPTON BEAMS
LEPTONS
PARTICLE BEAMS
SPECTRA