INVESTIGATION OF THE PASCHEN CURVE OF NITROGEN VIA THE APPLICATION OFNANOSECOND PULSED ELECTROMAGNETIC-RADIATION

The Paschen curve of nitrogen from pressures of 0.336 to 685 Torr via the application of nanosecond pulsed electromagnetic radiation has bee n investigated. Breakdown of the gas was achieved via pumping by short electromagnetic pulses and verified through the use of an optical mul tichannel analyzer. Adjustments for the short pulse nature of this inv estigation have been derived and are applied to the Paschen curve. The experiments were conducted utilizing a pulser with machine parameters of 1 J delivered during 1.375 ns FWHM into a 50 OMEGA coaxial line, a t a peak power of 1 GW. Investigation of this region has yielded data in the region of the relativistic Paschen curve as hypothesized by Gra ham and Roussel-Dupre. Experimental results yield no observable relati vistic effects under the conditions of this experiment. Additionally, the collisional frequency limit has been experimentally identified.