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Title: Underwater streamer propagation analyzed from detailed measurements of pressure release

Abstract

In this paper we describe experimental observations connected with the propagation of primary and secondary streamers in water. Using a Mach-Zehnder interferometer we determined the pressure field surrounding the streamer channel at a given instant in time with high temporal and spatial resolution. This pressure field contains information on the time evolution of the pressure pulse inside the discharge channel. The pressure history in the channel has been reconstructed by comparing the experimentally obtained fringe shifts in the interferograms with those derived from one-dimensional hydrodynamic calculations in cylindrical geometry. Assuming different trial pressure pulses, it has been possible to establish the channel pressure iteratively. A reproduction of the experimental data from secondary streamers requires short (2-3 ns) pressure pulses with amplitudes of 2-3 GPa. These findings are inconsistent with the assumption of bubble-initiated propagation of secondary streamers. It has also been inferred from estimates of the channel diameter that self-propagation of secondary streamers occurs at field strengths at the streamer tip of more than 2 GV/m. We can therefore conclude that field induced dissociation and ionization of molecules in the bulk liquid are the most likely mechanism for secondary streamer propagation. Rather high electrical conductivity (>0.2 S/m) is achieved atmore » fields of 2 GV/m and an ionization wave is launched from the streamer tip into the liquid. To advance the streamer the electric field must be expelled from the newly generated section. This occurs with the Maxwellian relaxation time of a few nanoseconds. During this time the region of high conductivity is transformed into a plasma channel of lower density and a pressure wave is launched into the liquid. A different mechanism is suggested for primary streamer formation. Because of the low conductivity in the channels it is more likely that gas bubbles or phase instabilities are involved in this case.« less

Authors:
; ;  [1]
  1. Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe, Institute for Pulsed Power and Microwave Technology, P.O. Box 3640, 76021 Karlsruhe (Germany)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
20982717
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Journal of Applied Physics
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 101; Journal Issue: 5; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.2437675; (c) 2007 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 0021-8979
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY; BUBBLES; DISSOCIATION; ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY; ELECTRIC DISCHARGES; ELECTRIC FIELDS; IONIZATION; MACH-ZEHNDER INTERFEROMETER; ONE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS; PLASMA DENSITY; PLASMA DIAGNOSTICS; PLASMA INSTABILITY; PLASMA PRESSURE; PLASMA SIMULATION; PRESSURE RANGE GIGA PA; PRESSURE RELEASE; RELAXATION TIME; SPATIAL RESOLUTION; UNDERWATER

Citation Formats

An, Wladimir, Baumung, Kurt, and Bluhm, Hansjoachim. Underwater streamer propagation analyzed from detailed measurements of pressure release. United States: N. p., 2007. Web. doi:10.1063/1.2437675.
An, Wladimir, Baumung, Kurt, & Bluhm, Hansjoachim. Underwater streamer propagation analyzed from detailed measurements of pressure release. United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2437675
An, Wladimir, Baumung, Kurt, and Bluhm, Hansjoachim. 2007. "Underwater streamer propagation analyzed from detailed measurements of pressure release". United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2437675.
@article{osti_20982717,
title = {Underwater streamer propagation analyzed from detailed measurements of pressure release},
author = {An, Wladimir and Baumung, Kurt and Bluhm, Hansjoachim},
abstractNote = {In this paper we describe experimental observations connected with the propagation of primary and secondary streamers in water. Using a Mach-Zehnder interferometer we determined the pressure field surrounding the streamer channel at a given instant in time with high temporal and spatial resolution. This pressure field contains information on the time evolution of the pressure pulse inside the discharge channel. The pressure history in the channel has been reconstructed by comparing the experimentally obtained fringe shifts in the interferograms with those derived from one-dimensional hydrodynamic calculations in cylindrical geometry. Assuming different trial pressure pulses, it has been possible to establish the channel pressure iteratively. A reproduction of the experimental data from secondary streamers requires short (2-3 ns) pressure pulses with amplitudes of 2-3 GPa. These findings are inconsistent with the assumption of bubble-initiated propagation of secondary streamers. It has also been inferred from estimates of the channel diameter that self-propagation of secondary streamers occurs at field strengths at the streamer tip of more than 2 GV/m. We can therefore conclude that field induced dissociation and ionization of molecules in the bulk liquid are the most likely mechanism for secondary streamer propagation. Rather high electrical conductivity (>0.2 S/m) is achieved at fields of 2 GV/m and an ionization wave is launched from the streamer tip into the liquid. To advance the streamer the electric field must be expelled from the newly generated section. This occurs with the Maxwellian relaxation time of a few nanoseconds. During this time the region of high conductivity is transformed into a plasma channel of lower density and a pressure wave is launched into the liquid. A different mechanism is suggested for primary streamer formation. Because of the low conductivity in the channels it is more likely that gas bubbles or phase instabilities are involved in this case.},
doi = {10.1063/1.2437675},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/20982717}, journal = {Journal of Applied Physics},
issn = {0021-8979},
number = 5,
volume = 101,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 2007},
month = {Thu Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 2007}
}