Mechanism and dynamics of picosecond radial breakdown of a gas-filled coaxial line

High-voltage picosecond breakdown of an atmospheric-pressure air-filled coaxial line in the radial electric field of a propagating transverse electromagnetic wave has been studied both experimentally and theoretically. On the one hand, we demonstrate that gas preionization by runaway electrons (RAEs...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Plasma sources science & technology 2020-12, Vol.29 (12), p.125008
Main Authors: Zubarev, Nikolay M, Kozhevnikov, Vasily Yu, Kozyrev, Andrey V, Mesyats, Gennady A, Semeniuk, Natalia S, Sharypov, Konstantin A, Shunailov, Sergei A, Yalandin, Michael I
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
air-filled coaxial line
kinetic model
preionization
pulsed gas breakdown
reflectometry
runaway electrons
TEM wave
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Summary:High-voltage picosecond breakdown of an atmospheric-pressure air-filled coaxial line in the radial electric field of a propagating transverse electromagnetic wave has been studied both experimentally and theoretically. On the one hand, we demonstrate that gas preionization by runaway electrons (RAEs) plays a decisive role in the breakdown development process: the breakdown delay time drastically increases in the absence of RAEs. On the other hand, it is established that, for sufficiently short pulses, the radial gap switching process does not have enough time to develop even in a situation where the RAE flow is effectively generated. Fundamental limitations on the breakdown strength of gas coaxial feeders imposed by this effect are discussed.
ISSN:0963-0252
1361-6595
DOI:10.1088/1361-6595/abc414