Ion Density and Dielectric Breakdown in the Afterglow of a High-Current Arc Discharge

摘要

The ion density in the afterglow of a high-current atmospheric arc-discharge and electrical breakdown were investigated in atomic (argon), molecular (nitrogen) and electronegative (carbon dioxide) media. From the decay with time of the ion density, effective recombination coefficients can be calculated. When the ion density is reduced to values 2 times 10 to the 17th power/cum the afterglow plasma changes from a resistive into a dielectric medium.