Subnanosecond high-speed framing of prebreakdown phenomena

Abstract

This paper describes an optical diagnostic system for the subnanosecond time range.The system consists of three main parts; a gated image intensfier tube with dual microchanel -plate (MCP), a low light level CCD -camera and a triggerable digital video frame store.With this system an exposure time of 0.8 ns, a shutter ratio of more than 1 O and a gain greater than iO can be achived. The spatial resolution of the system is 10 lp/rnm. The used camera system allows to trigger the digital frame store at the beginning of the frame. The digital frame store is connected to a personal computer, thereby a very comfortable image analyzing system is established. This optical diagnostic system allows the direct measurement of the radiation emitted during an electrical breakdown of a spark pap. The optical analysis provides important information about the breakdown mechanism '