Range of existence of self-sustained, subcritical microwave streamer discharges

Data are presented from a study of subcritical microwave streamer discharges in air in an electromagnetic beam. It is shown that, depending on the degree of subcriticality, this kind of discharge can have two forms: a self-sustained discharge and a discharge that is attached to the initiating trigger. The range of subcriticality for the initial field is determined as a function of air pressure within which the self-sustained developed discharge form exists. Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 69, 19–24 (November 1999)