Perpendicular Propagation Velocity of a Townsend Discharge in Crossed DC Uniform Electric and Magnetic Fields

By using a pulsed ultraviolet light source, the propagation velocity, in the range 0.19-8.15 x 104 m s-1, of a Townsend discharge has been measured oscilloscopically as it travels perpendicularly to the applied crossed DC uniform electric and magnetic field in ethane gas near the Paschen minimum alo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series A, Mathematical and physical sciences Mathematical and physical sciences, 1986-08, Vol.406 (1831), p.345-362
Main Authors: Watts, M. P., Heylen, A. E. D.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Avalanches
Cathodes
Cations
Electric discharges
Electric fields
Electrons
Exact sciences and technology
Fall lines
Gas pressure
Magnetic fields
Phase velocity
Photons
Physics
Physics of gases, plasmas and electric discharges
Physics of plasmas and electric discharges
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Summary:By using a pulsed ultraviolet light source, the propagation velocity, in the range 0.19-8.15 x 104 m s-1, of a Townsend discharge has been measured oscilloscopically as it travels perpendicularly to the applied crossed DC uniform electric and magnetic field in ethane gas near the Paschen minimum along ski-shaped electrodes having suitably placed monitoring probes in the cathode. Fundamental measurements of the electron avalanche deflection angle and the positive ion drift velocity allow the calculated continuous and stepped propagation velocity to be compared with the measured one, by using an earlier simplified model and a more developed one; agreement is good. This opens up new areas for study of Townsend discharges and a successful correlation with magnetic arc movement is reported.
ISSN:1364-5021
0080-4630
1471-2946
2053-9169
DOI:10.1098/rspa.1986.0079