Investigation of the Plasma Properties of Surface Discharges.
Abstract
Large-area (60-220 sq cm), short-pulse (approx. 1 microsec) planar discharges employing profiled electrodes have been produced across various polymer substrates. Parametric studies of the electrical circuit parameters and discharge dimensions demonstrate the importance of proper source driver impedance matching to short-pulse operation. The degree of spatial homogeneity depends upon the peak discharge voltage, the initial rate of voltage rise, the specific capacitance of the substrate, the gas atmosphere and pressure, and the ablation mode of the substrate. Spectroscopic studies were performed to measure the equivalent brightness temperature, electron temperature, electron density, and optical thickness of smaller-area (24 sq cm) surface discharges across perovskite ceramic substrates. Detailed measurements were conducted with the spectrometer slit image perpendicular and parallel to the substrate surface, with the latter measurements being performed at incremental heights above the surface, with the latter measurements being performed at incremental heights above the surface. The plasma is not opaque in the soft-uv and shows considerable structue due to line emission from neutral and singly-ionized species originating from the gas atmosphere and vaporized substrate material. Keywords: Surface discharges; Incoherent optical sources; Electrical properties; Breakdown time; Electrical recovery; Gasdynamic behavior; Shock waves; Optical detonation; Radiative properties; and Spectroscopy.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 30, 1985
- Accession Number
- ADA164345
Entities
People
- R. E. Beverly Iii