Electrical Breakdown of Hydrogen and Helium on Subnanosecond Time Scales

Abstract

This report describes the experimental determination of the formative time lag data for hydrogen and helium. For subnanosecond risetime pulses, there are typically very few free electrons in the discharge space generated through ionization by external radiation sources such as cosmic rays. Therefore, electrical field emission plays a very important role in these discharges. This report also includes a theoretical determination of the effective electric field for an arbitrary electromagnetic pulse. The effective electric fields for a variety of pulse shapes are calculated for the first time.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 01, 2000
Accession Number
ADA383470

Entities

People

  • D. W. Scholfield
  • J. Lester
  • J. M. Gahl
  • N. Shimomura

Organizations

  • University of New Mexico

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Sensors

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Air Force Research Laboratories
  • Cosmic Rays
  • Directed Energy Weapons
  • Electric Fields
  • Electrons
  • Emission
  • Engineering
  • Field Emission
  • Free Electrons
  • High Power Microwaves
  • Hydrogen
  • Ionization
  • Military Research
  • New Mexico
  • Radiation
  • Transmission Lines

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Pulsed Power and Plasma Physics.
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics
  • Space
  • Space - Hall-Effect Thruster