Low Pressure Electrical Discharge Studies

Abstract

The report concerns electrical breakdown of air at low pressures or high altitudes (70,000 to 250,000 feet) due to secondary emission. Information pertinent to the problem of low frequency (0 to 1000 cps) sparking was compiled through a literature survey. A bibliography concerning electrical breakdown at both low and high frequencies was compiled. A test program yielded the following results: no statistically significant deviation from Paschen's Law was detected. The addition of water vapor to the air constituting the test environment caused a significant lowering of the minimum sparking voltage. Recommendations are made relative to test programs for missile electrical components employing voltages higher than 200 volts.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 17, 1959
Accession Number
AD0605984

Entities

People

  • A. C. Reed
  • W. H. Krebs

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics
  • Air Platforms
  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Chemical Elements
  • Current Density
  • Electric Arcs
  • Electric Fields
  • Electron Emission
  • Electron Tubes
  • Electrons
  • Emission
  • Free Electrons
  • Gas Discharges
  • Glow Discharges
  • High Altitude
  • Literature Surveys
  • Measurement
  • Secondary Emission
  • Space Systems
  • Statistical Tests

Fields of Study

  • Engineering

Readers

  • Library and Information Science
  • Plasma Physics.