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 00:00:00 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), Vol. 69:5; ISSN 0021-8979
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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