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Title: Electrical Breakdown in Water Vapor

Abstract

In this paper investigations of the voltage required to break down water vapor are reported for the region around the Paschen minimum and to the left of it. In spite of numerous applications of discharges in biomedicine, and recent studies of discharges in water and vapor bubbles and discharges with liquid water electrodes, studies of the basic parameters of breakdown are lacking. Paschen curves have been measured by recording voltages and currents in the low-current Townsend regime and extrapolating them to zero current. The minimum electrical breakdown voltage for water vapor was found to be 480 V at a pressure times electrode distance (pd) value of around 0.6 Torr cm ({approx}0.8 Pa m). The present measurements are also interpreted using (and add additional insight into) the developing understanding of relevant atomic and particularly surface processes associated with electrical breakdown.

Authors:
; ; ;  [1];  [2]
  1. Institute of Physics, University of Belgrade, Pregrevica 118, 11080 Belgrade (Serbia)
  2. Centre for Plasma Physics, School of Mathematics and Physics, Queens University Belfast, BT7 1NN (United Kingdom)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
21612317
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Physical Review. E, Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics (Print)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 84; Journal Issue: 5; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevE.84.055401; (c) 2011 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 1539-3755
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS; ELECTRIC POTENTIAL; ELECTRICAL FAULTS; ELECTRODES; PASCHEN LAW; WATER VAPOR; FLUIDS; GASES; VAPORS

Citation Formats

Skoro, N, Maric, D, Malovic, G, Petrovic, Z Lj, and Graham, W G. Electrical Breakdown in Water Vapor. United States: N. p., 2011. Web. doi:10.1103/PHYSREVE.84.055401.
Skoro, N, Maric, D, Malovic, G, Petrovic, Z Lj, & Graham, W G. Electrical Breakdown in Water Vapor. United States. https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVE.84.055401
Skoro, N, Maric, D, Malovic, G, Petrovic, Z Lj, and Graham, W G. 2011. "Electrical Breakdown in Water Vapor". United States. https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVE.84.055401.
@article{osti_21612317,
title = {Electrical Breakdown in Water Vapor},
author = {Skoro, N and Maric, D and Malovic, G and Petrovic, Z Lj and Graham, W G},
abstractNote = {In this paper investigations of the voltage required to break down water vapor are reported for the region around the Paschen minimum and to the left of it. In spite of numerous applications of discharges in biomedicine, and recent studies of discharges in water and vapor bubbles and discharges with liquid water electrodes, studies of the basic parameters of breakdown are lacking. Paschen curves have been measured by recording voltages and currents in the low-current Townsend regime and extrapolating them to zero current. The minimum electrical breakdown voltage for water vapor was found to be 480 V at a pressure times electrode distance (pd) value of around 0.6 Torr cm ({approx}0.8 Pa m). The present measurements are also interpreted using (and add additional insight into) the developing understanding of relevant atomic and particularly surface processes associated with electrical breakdown.},
doi = {10.1103/PHYSREVE.84.055401},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/21612317}, journal = {Physical Review. E, Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics (Print)},
issn = {1539-3755},
number = 5,
volume = 84,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Nov 15 00:00:00 EST 2011},
month = {Tue Nov 15 00:00:00 EST 2011}
}