ELECTRICAL BREAKDOWN IN THE ATMOSPHERE

Abstract

Results of experiments on breakdown electric fields at L-, X-, and K- band over a large pressure range and in a large number of resonant cavities of different sizes are given. Progress in the beam-type experiments designed to measure attachment and collision cross-sections at very low energies is described. A method of using the experimental data to predict breakdown fields under both pulsed and cw conditions is described. It is considered unlikely that further experimental data on electrical breakdown in the atmosphere at pressures ranging from atmospheric to that at 100 km altitude, and in the frequency range of 100 Mc/s to 100 kMc/s, would lead to conclusions different from those contained herein.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 16, 1962
Accession Number
AD0282949

Entities

People

  • A. D. Macdonald
  • H. W. Bandel

Organizations

  • Rome Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Altitude
  • Boltzmann Equation
  • Cavity Resonators
  • Collisions
  • Electric Fields
  • Electron Energy
  • Elements
  • Experimental Data
  • Frequency
  • Government Procurement
  • K Band
  • Measurement
  • Particle Collisions
  • Plastic Explosives
  • Repetition Rate
  • United States

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Electronics Engineering
  • Molecular Photonics/Laser Physics
  • Spectroscopy.