Fast Electron Ionization Effect in Multigap Pseudospark Discharge Under Nanosecond Pulsed Voltages

Abstract

In this paper, research studies on the breakdown progresses of multigap pseudospark discharge under nanosecond pulsed voltages are reported. The experimental results show great differences from dc voltages. The discharge mechanism of the pseudospark under nanosecond pulsed voltages has been successfully explained by the fast electron ionization effect. In each gap, collision ionizations caused by the fast electron start step by step, and development progresses are almost the same and approximately simultaneous until the main gap breaks down.Index Terms-Fast electron ionization, multigap pseudospark, nanosecond pulsed voltages.

Millimeter wave extended interaction oscillator based on pseudospark-sourced electron beam

“…A pseudospark discharge is a three-phase process happening in an unique hollow cathode structure within a certain low pressure range (typically 50-500 mTorr). During a pseudospark discharge, low temperature plasma is formed that acts as a virtual cathode for extraction of high-quality electron beams of diameters in the range from millimetres to microns [5][6][7][8][9]. The electron beam has the ability of self-focusing due to the unique structure and the formation of an ion channel generated by the beam front.…”