Accession Number:

AD0769025

Title:

The Effect of Ionization and Flow Velocity upon Spark Gap Recovery,

Descriptive Note:

Corporate Author:

VICTORIA UNIV (BRITISH COLUMBIA) DEPT OF PHYSICS

Personal Author(s):

• Clements,R. M.
• Smy,P. R.

Report Date:

1973-01-04

Pagination or Media Count:

15.0

Abstract:

Breakdown measurements for a small cylindrical cathode in an atmospheric-pressure flowing plasma of variable ionization between 10 to the 15th power and 10 to the 18th powercubic meter are reported for both DC voltages and fast-rise pulses rise time 0.16 microseconds applied to the cathode. For these measurements the breakdown voltages are found to be reduced to as little as 16 of the breakdown voltage with no ionization. The measurements agree reasonably well with a theoretical model in which the anode is not the positive electrode in the plasma, but rather the edge of the coaxial sheath which surrounds the cathode, with breakdown voltages being given by the well-known breakdown relation for coaxial gaps. Modified author abstract

Descriptors:

• (*GAS IONIZATION
• ELECTRIC ARCS)
• (*CIRCUIT BREAKERS
• *SPARKS)
• CATHODES
• ELECTRON DENSITY
• TRANSIENTS

Subject Categories:

• Electricity and Magnetism
• Plasma Physics and Magnetohydrodynamics

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE