Electron Kinetics as Applied to Pulsed Power Switching
Abstract
This paper reports on calculations of the electron energy distribution occurring in gases and gas mixtures used in switching. For externally ionized high pressure discharges the optimization of the conductivity as a function of a gas mixture (usually a Ramsauer gas plus a molecular gas) and of E/N is examined. The power loading and pulse length change the vibrational populations of the molecular gas and may reduce the conductivity unless the vibrational relaxation is sufficiently rapid. For high repetition rates we also examine the influence of dissociation on the plasma conductivity and how the decay processes might be influenced by the degree of vibrational excitation.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1983
- Accession Number
- ADA639272
Entities
People
- Alan Garscadden
Organizations
- Wright Laboratory