Pulsed Microwave Breakdown in Gases with a Low Degree of Preionization
Abstract
The paper presents the results of experiments on microwave breakdown at an open end waveguide antenna in Air, Argon, Nitrogen, Carbon Dioxide and Methane at pressures of 0.3 and 30 Torr. The antenna was operated at 9.375 GHz under pulsed conditions at varying pulse rates. Very low degrees of preionization were obtained by adjusting to very slow pulse rates. The power needed to maintain the discharge was measured and from that the electric field strength was calculated. This presented as a function of pressure for each gas at pulse rates ranging from 10 to 500 pulses per second. At low pulse rates, significantly higher power levels are needed to maintain the discharge. An interesting feature is the double minima observed at low pulse rates in the data for breakdown field strength as a function of pressure for Carbon Dioxide and Methane. The data was also used to calculate ionization frequency as a function of effective electric field for all give gases. Where possible, this data is compared with data reported by other investigators.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 1972
- Accession Number
- AD0748830
Entities
People
- E. F. Dawson
- S. Lederman
Organizations
- New York University Tandon School of Engineering