Influence of ultraviolet illumination on microdischarge behavior in dry and humid N{sub 2}, O{sub 2}, air, and Ar/O{sub 2}: The Joshi effect
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545 (United States)
The influence of UV illumination on the behavior of silent electrical discharge streamers (microdischarges) in dry and humid gases (nitrogen, oxygen, air, and Ar/O{sub 2} mixtures) is presented. A commercial low-pressure mercury lamp, which was spectrally calibrated, provides UV light. The UV irradiance power coupled into the discharge cell is also calculated. The transferred charge per mean microdischarge (in a voltage half-cycle) was measured for a pin electrode assembly, configured to deliver either M{minus}G+ transitions (electrons going from metal towards dielectric) or M+G{minus} transitions (electrons going from dielectric to metal). The total transferred charge is recorded by monitoring a charge versus voltage plot (Lissajous figure). When illumination is restricted to the gas alone, both the total transferred charge and the individual-microdischarge transferred charge remain constant for either transition (M{minus}G+ or M+G{minus}). However, when the dielectric is illuminated, a marked decrease in the individual-microdischarge transferred charge is observed for M+G{minus} transitions in some gases. For this case, a greater number of microdischarges must occur in a half-cycle to keep the total transferred charge constant, thereby creating more homogeneous discharge conditions. {copyright} {ital 1997 American Institute of Physics.}
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Laboratory
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- OSTI ID:
- 496645
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Applied Physics, Journal Name: Journal of Applied Physics Journal Issue: 9 Vol. 81; ISSN JAPIAU; ISSN 0021-8979
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
The consequences of remnant surface charges on microdischarge spreading in dielectric barrier discharges
Microdischarge-assisted ignition of dielectric-barrier high-pressure glow discharges