Measurement of electrical avalanches and optical radiation near solid insulators in high pressure (up to 0. 3 MPa) nitrogen gas

Journal Article · Fri Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1991 · Journal of Applied Physics; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.348596· OSTI ID:6146007

Mahajan, S M ^[1]; Sudarshan, T S ^[2]

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1. Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville, Tennessee (US)
2. University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina (US)

Electron and ion avalanches have been recorded near a variety of insulators (plexiglas, teflon, high-density polyethylene, low-density polyethylene, polypropylene, delrin, polyvinyl chloride, and nylon) in nitrogen gas at pressures of 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 MPa. With the exception of nylon, suppression of avalanches has been observed in the presence of insulators. In addition to electron and ion avalanches, simultaneous measurement of optical radiation associated with an electron avalanche was successfully carried out. Qualitative explanations have been provided for the suppression of avalanches near most insulators and an anomalous growth of avalanches near nylon insulators. Photoemission from nylon surfaces appears to be responsible for the enhanced growth of avalanches near nylon insulators. More precise measurements of optical radiation are needed to better understand the electron-photon interactions near a solid insulator in a gaseous dielectric medium.

• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• OSTI ID: 6146007
• Journal Information: Journal of Applied Physics; (USA), Journal Name: Journal of Applied Physics; (USA) Vol. 69:5; ISSN 0021-8979; ISSN JAPIA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360603 -- Materials-- Properties
640301* -- Atomic
Molecular & Chemical Physics-- Beams & their Reactions
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
CURRENTS
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ELECTRICAL INSULATORS
ELECTRO-OPTICAL EFFECTS
ELEMENTS
EMISSION
EQUIPMENT
ESTERS
FLASHOVER
FLUORINATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
HALOGENATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
HIGH PRESSURE
INTERACTIONS
MATERIALS
NITROGEN
NONMETALS
NYLON
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC FLUORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC INSULATORS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
PARTICLE INTERACTIONS
PETROCHEMICALS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
PHOTOEMISSION
PHOTON-ELECTRON INTERACTIONS
PHOTON-LEPTON INTERACTIONS
PLASTICS
PLEXIGLAS
POLY
POLYACRYLATES
POLYAMIDES
POLYETHYLENES
POLYMERS
POLYOLEFINS
POLYPROPYLENE
POLYTETRAFLUOROETHYLENE
POLYVINYLS
SECONDARY EMISSION
SYNTHETIC MATERIALS
TEFLON
TOWNSEND DISCHARGE