Vorstadium des Funkens,untersucht mit dem Bildverstärker

Streamer development (near cathode, midgap, and near anode streamers) was investigated by means of image intensification and image deflection as to conditions for streamer onset and streamer velocities during the various stages of the avalanche-to-plasma channel transition in several gases, e.g. N₂, H₂, A, CH₄ as well as air, and some more mixtures of gases, in the pressure range 100 to 500 Torr. Quantitative results were obtained, and the influence of the discharge parameters upon streamer development is discussed. — The enhanced and accelerated streamer stage (II) was now observed in either direction; the significantly fast and steep ionization waves (stage III) were found to start at the cathode as well as at the anode on arrival of the respective streamers. Velocities up to 10⁹ cm/sec were measured.