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Title: Observation of Large Arrays of Plasma Filaments in Air Breakdown by 1.5-MW 110-GHz Gyrotron Pulses

Abstract

We report the observation of two-dimensional plasma filamentary arrays with more than 100 elements generated during breakdown of air at atmospheric pressure by a focused Gaussian beam from a 1.5-MW, 110-GHz gyrotron operating in 3-{mu}s pulses. Each element is a plasma filament elongated in the electric field direction and regularly spaced about one-quarter wavelength apart in the plane perpendicular to the electric field. The development of the array is explained as a result of diffraction of the beam around the filaments, leading to the sequential generation of high intensity spots, at which new filaments are created, about a quarter wavelength upstream from each existing filament. Electromagnetic wave simulations corroborate this explanation and show very good correlation to the observed pattern of filaments.

Authors:
; ; ; ; ;  [1]
  1. Plasma Science and Fusion Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 167 Albany Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139 (United States)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
21020980
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Physical Review Letters
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 100; Journal Issue: 3; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.100.035003; (c) 2008 The American Physical Society; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 0031-9007
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS; AIR; ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE; BREAKDOWN; CORRELATIONS; DIFFRACTION; ELECTRIC FIELDS; ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION; GHZ RANGE 100-1000; PLASMA; PLASMA FILAMENT; PULSES; SIMULATION; TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS; WAVELENGTHS

Citation Formats

Hidaka, Yoshiteru, Choi, E M, Mastovsky, I, Shapiro, M A, Sirigiri, J R, and Temkin, R J. Observation of Large Arrays of Plasma Filaments in Air Breakdown by 1.5-MW 110-GHz Gyrotron Pulses. United States: N. p., 2008. Web. doi:10.1103/PHYSREVLETT.100.035003.
Hidaka, Yoshiteru, Choi, E M, Mastovsky, I, Shapiro, M A, Sirigiri, J R, & Temkin, R J. Observation of Large Arrays of Plasma Filaments in Air Breakdown by 1.5-MW 110-GHz Gyrotron Pulses. United States. https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVLETT.100.035003
Hidaka, Yoshiteru, Choi, E M, Mastovsky, I, Shapiro, M A, Sirigiri, J R, and Temkin, R J. 2008. "Observation of Large Arrays of Plasma Filaments in Air Breakdown by 1.5-MW 110-GHz Gyrotron Pulses". United States. https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVLETT.100.035003.
@article{osti_21020980,
title = {Observation of Large Arrays of Plasma Filaments in Air Breakdown by 1.5-MW 110-GHz Gyrotron Pulses},
author = {Hidaka, Yoshiteru and Choi, E M and Mastovsky, I and Shapiro, M A and Sirigiri, J R and Temkin, R J},
abstractNote = {We report the observation of two-dimensional plasma filamentary arrays with more than 100 elements generated during breakdown of air at atmospheric pressure by a focused Gaussian beam from a 1.5-MW, 110-GHz gyrotron operating in 3-{mu}s pulses. Each element is a plasma filament elongated in the electric field direction and regularly spaced about one-quarter wavelength apart in the plane perpendicular to the electric field. The development of the array is explained as a result of diffraction of the beam around the filaments, leading to the sequential generation of high intensity spots, at which new filaments are created, about a quarter wavelength upstream from each existing filament. Electromagnetic wave simulations corroborate this explanation and show very good correlation to the observed pattern of filaments.},
doi = {10.1103/PHYSREVLETT.100.035003},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/21020980}, journal = {Physical Review Letters},
issn = {0031-9007},
number = 3,
volume = 100,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Jan 25 00:00:00 EST 2008},
month = {Fri Jan 25 00:00:00 EST 2008}
}