Characteristics of volume discharge in gaps with a small interelectrode separation

This paper examines the excitation conditions, ignition ranges, and also the energetic characteristics of high-pressure volume discharge. It is shown that, using the UV radiation of an auxiliary discharge to preionize the active medium, volume discharge turns out to be substantially more stable than if weak x-ray radiation is used, creating an initial electron concentration 10⁸ cm^–3. Data are cited which indicate that the energy entering the gas with the primary discharge increases in proportion to the increase of energy dissipated in the auxiliary discharge. Several results are reported about the effect of electric field homogeneity on the nature of the discharge progression.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 4, pp. 89–94, April, 1986.