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Diffuse Discharges Formed in an Inhomogeneous Electric Field Due to Runaway Electrons

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Pulsed Discharge Plasmas

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Abstract

Experimental results on amplitude-time and optical characteristics of diffuse discharges (DDs) in an inhomogeneous electric field and high-pressurized gases are demonstrated. The dynamics of the discharge plasma emission, the waveforms of voltage, discharge current, displacement current, and runaway electron beam (REB) current were obtained with a high temporal resolution (up to 10 ps) in various modes of DDs. It has been established that the formation of DD at high values of the reduced electric field strength is due to the generation of high-energy electrons, as well as X-ray radiation (XR) arising under the action of runaway electrons (REs). DDs, as well as REs and XR, were obtained both in a single pulse mode and repetitively pulsed one. The dynamics of discharge development in gaps with an inhomogeneous electric field strength distribution filled with helium, argon, nitrogen, SF6, and air was studied using a four-channel ICCD camera and a streak camera. It was shown that REs are generated at the initial stage of discharge development in the vicinity of the pointed cathode. Data on the possibilities of practical use of DDs are given.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of High Current Electronics SB RAS, Tomsk, Russia

    Dmitry Beloplotov, Dmitry Sorokin & Victor Tarasenko

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  1. Dmitry Beloplotov
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  2. Dmitry Sorokin
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  3. Victor Tarasenko
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Correspondence to Victor Tarasenko .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Electrical Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China

    Tao Shao

  2. Institute of Electrical Engineering, Institute of Electrical Engineering, Beijing, China

    Cheng Zhang

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Beloplotov, D., Sorokin, D., Tarasenko, V. (2023). Diffuse Discharges Formed in an Inhomogeneous Electric Field Due to Runaway Electrons. In: Shao, T., Zhang, C. (eds) Pulsed Discharge Plasmas. Springer Series in Plasma Science and Technology. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-1141-7_10

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