Probability of electrical breakdown: Evidence for a transition between the Townsend and streamer breakdown mechanisms

Hodges, Ronald V.; Varney, Robert N.; Riley, J. F.

doi:10.1103/physreva.31.2610

Cited by 43 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…On the other hand, we note that streamer velocities, in both natural and industrial contexts, are typically orders of magnitude higher than our observed speed. 27 Thus, in this respect plasma globe filaments appear to represent a sort of slow streamer. This discharge regime may also possibly be influenced by thermal ionization instability.…”

Section: E Filament Origins and Propagationmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…26 Thus, near atmospheric pressure, a is of order unity, and for our 8 cm gap we are probably in excess of the Meek criterion. Based on these empirical rules, we expect some degree of streamer activity within the globe (though which breakdown mechanism dominates the discharge each cycle is considered to be, ultimately, probabilistic 27 ).…”

Section: E Filament Origins and Propagationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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On filament structure and propagation within a commercial plasma globe

et al. 2015

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The filamentary discharge seen within commercial plasma globes is commonly enjoyed yet not well understood. Here, we investigate the discharge properties of a plasma globe using a variable high voltage amplifier. We find that increasing voltage magnitude increases the number of filaments while leaving their individual structure basically unchanged, a result typical of dielectric barrier discharges. The frequency of the voltage also affects filament population but more significantly changes filament structure, with more diffuse filaments seen at lower frequencies. Voltage polarity is observed to be important, especially at lower frequencies, where for negative-gradient voltages the discharge is more diffuse, not filamentary. At late stages of the discharge circular structures appear and expand on the glass boundaries. We find no trend of discharge speed with respect to voltage variables, though this may be due to manufacturer sample-to-sample variation. Each voltage cycle the discharge expands outward at $10-15 km/s, a speed significantly higher than the estimated electron drift yet considerably lower than that observed for most streamers. We discuss the physics of these observations and their relation to similar discharges that can be found within nature and industry. V C 2015 AIP Publishing LLC. [http://dx.

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Section: E Filament Origins and Propagationmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: E Filament Origins and Propagationmentioning

confidence: 99%

On filament structure and propagation within a commercial plasma globe

et al. 2015

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“…The distribution of the dynamic breakdown voltages U b for an inhomogeneous Poisson process is given by [15]:…”

Section: Fitting the Experimental Distributionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These rate coefficients in (14) and (15) are defined in relation to the gas-phase number density of nitrogen atoms [2,22]. The initial number density of nitrogen atoms is assumed to be [N 0 ] = 3 × 10 9 cm −3 which corresponds to about 1 ppm impurity contents of nitrogen in argon and typical degree of dissociation of ∼ 10% [34,35] (Fig.…”

Section: Relaxation Kinetics In Argon Afterglowmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stochastic and Relaxation Processes in Argon by Measurements of Dynamic Breakdown Voltages

Marković¹,

Stamenković

Gocić

et al. 2005

Contrib. Plasma Phys.

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Statistically based measurements of breakdown voltages U b and breakdown delay times t d and their variations in transient regimes of establishment and relaxation of discharges are a convenient method to study stochastic processes of electrical breakdown of gases, as well as relaxation kinetics in afterglow. In this paper the measurements and statistical analysis of the dynamic breakdown voltages U b for linearly rising (ramp) pulses in argon at 1.33 mbar and the rates of voltage rise k up to 800 V s −1 are presented. It was found that electrical breakdowns by linearly rising (ramp) pulses is an inhomogeneous Poisson process caused by primary and secondary ionization coefficients α, γ and electron yield Y variations on the voltage (time). The experimental breakdown voltage distributions were fitted by theoretical distributions by applying approximate analytical and numerical models. The afterglow kinetics in argon was studied based on the dependence of the initial electron yield on the relaxation time Y0 (τ ) derived from fitting of distributions. The space charge decay was explained by the surface recombination of nitrogen atoms present as impurities. The afterglow kinetics and the surface recombination coefficients on the gas tube and cathode were determined from a gas-phase model.

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“…The transition regime between Townsend and streamer mechanism is described in [6]. The electrical breakdown in gases is of a stochastic nature as the result of the statistical behavior of the processes, which lead to it.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigation of the Early Multiplication Processes of the Glow Discharge Formation in Neon Filled Diode at 1.33 mbar Pressure

Mitić¹,

Maluckov

Radović³

2006

Contrib. Plasma Phys.

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Key words Electrical breakdown in neon, optical measurements, stages of formative time delay, temporal and spatial development of glow discharge. PACS 52.70. Kz, 52.80.Hc The results of the investigation of the glow discharge time and space development in the neon-filled diode at 1.33 mbar are presented. The glow is of the diffusion type with saturation current value of 0.2 mA. The temporal development of the light intensity, emitted perpendicularly on the diode axis from many different parts of the diode, is registered. Using this temporal development, the spatial development of the emitted light is examined. Electrically registered (by the oscilloscope) the total current through the diode reaches the saturation for 1.5 ms, which corresponds to the classical presumption of the formative time delay. The prebreakdown current is registered measuring the emitted light from diode gap. The investigation of light shows the increase of excitation in the gap at least 3 ms before any significant current has been registered (I < 1 µA). The negative glow appears in the diode gap near the anode and in the next a few milliseconds covers the cathode indicating the presence of the multiplication processes in the diode. The stationary regime in the diode is established for about 10 ms. Using this detection method, three stages of the discharge formation can be easily distinguished. These results indicate that the prebreakdown processes in the diode gap can be associated with the first stage of the breakdown formation.

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Probability of electrical breakdown: Evidence for a transition between the Townsend and streamer breakdown mechanisms

Cited by 43 publications

References 30 publications

On filament structure and propagation within a commercial plasma globe

On filament structure and propagation within a commercial plasma globe

Stochastic and Relaxation Processes in Argon by Measurements of Dynamic Breakdown Voltages

Investigation of the Early Multiplication Processes of the Glow Discharge Formation in Neon Filled Diode at 1.33 mbar Pressure

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