Mechanisms responsible for the initiation of a fast breakdown in an atmospheric discharge
[1];
- P. N. Lebedev Physical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow (Russia); Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Moscow Region (Russia); Lebedev - Cornell University
- P. N. Lebedev Physical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow (Russia)
- P. N. Lebedev Physical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow (Russia); Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Moscow Region (Russia)
Here, the initial stage of the fast electrical breakdown of an air gap with a pin-to-plane electrode geometry is studied on a nanosecond time scale using multi-frame laser probing with an exposure time of 70 ps and spatial resolution as high as 3–4 μm. We find that the gap breakdown is associated with the fast (≲1 ns) formation of a micron-sized (~10 μm) cathode spot that appears as a plasma with an electron density of $${n}_{e}\approx {10}^{19}\,{\mathrm{cm}}^{-3}$$. The spot is then transformed into a spark channel having an electron density of $${n}_{e}\sim {10}^{19}\mbox{–}{10}^{20}\,{\mathrm{cm}}^{-3}$$. Within ~1 ns after the breakdown the dynamics of the highly ionized near-cathode plasma governs the current capacity of the discharge gap as well as the current rise rate.
- Research Organization:
- Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Office of Defense Science (NA-113)
- Grant/Contract Number:
- NA0003764
- OSTI ID:
- 1482800
- Journal Information:
- Plasma Sources Science and Technology, Journal Name: Plasma Sources Science and Technology Journal Issue: 11 Vol. 27; ISSN 1361-6595
- Publisher:
- IOP PublishingCopyright Statement
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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