Initiated subcritical microwave streamer discharge and the problem of global elimination of Freons from the Earth's atmosphere

An analysis is made of an initiated streamer discharge in a microwave wave beam at subcritical field from the point of view of using this type of disc harge for global elimination of Freons, which are damaging to the ozone lay er, from the Earth's atmosphere. The various stages of discharge evolution are illustrated with photographs and the physical factors determining its p roperties at these stages are indicated. (C) 1998 American Institute of Phy sics. [S1063-7842(98)00312-2].