Accession Number:

ADA172227

Title:

Intense and Short Pulse Electric Field (DC and Microwave) Air Breakdown Parameters

Descriptive Note:

Memorandum rept. 1 Oct 85-29 Aug 1986

Corporate Author:

NAVAL RESEARCH LAB WASHINGTON DC PLASMA PHYSICS DIV

Personal Author(s):

• Ali, A. W.

Report Date:

1986-08-29

Pagination or Media Count:

34.0

Abstract:

Experimental data for the drift velocity and Townsend ionization coefficient in N2 and O2 are utilized to obtain the ionization rates in N2, O2 and air. These rates are given over a wide range of Ep and differ from those of Felsenthal and Proud at high Ep because of the draft velocity dependence on E p. Felsenthal and Proud assume a linear dependence on Ep while experimentally, especially at high Ep, this dependence varies as square root of Ep. The developed rates agree well with recent experimental short pulse air breakdown data and are recommended for use in high power microwave short pulse air breakdown and propagation calculations.

Descriptors:

• *IONIZATION
• *RADIOFREQUENCY POWER
• COEFFICIENTS
• COMPUTATIONS
• DIRECT CURRENT
• DRIFT
• HIGH POWER
• MICROWAVE EQUIPMENT
• MICROWAVES
• PARAMETERS
• PROPAGATION
• RANGE(EXTREMES)
• RATES
• SHORT PULSES
• SQUARE ROOTS
• VELOCITY

Subject Categories:

• Plasma Physics and Magnetohydrodynamics

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE