This paper presents the research data on the dynamics of a repetitive pulsed discharge as a source of plasma jets in atmospheric pressure air and on the conditions under which the discharge produces apokamp–plasma jets ejected from the bending point of the discharge channel with no gas supply through the discharge region. The data suggest that the formation of apokamps requires the application of a large number of voltage pulses to sharp-ended electrodes at a repetition frequency of several to tens of kilohertz. Before an apokamp starts developing, the apokamp-initiating discharge passes through a spark stage and then becomes diffuse. Next, at the site of electric field amplification, the discharge channel gives rise to a bright branch from which plasma bullets escape with a velocity of ∼200 km/s. The images of different discharge and apokamp stages are presented.

A single-pulse imaging laser projection system (laser monitor) is proposed for real-time monitoring high-speed processes shielded by the intensive background lighting. The brightness temperature of the lighting can reach thousands or even tens of thousands of degrees, which makes it difficult to observe the processes with the naked eye. The estimates of limiting temperatures show that the use of the proposed instrument allows to view the objects when the equivalent brightness temperature of the background lighting is up to 45,000 K. The results of visualization of some bright objects and processes using high-speed copper bromide vapor laser monitor are presented.

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