The design and construction of a millimeter size noninvasive capacitive pro
be array to investigate ionization growth phenomena in pulsed capillary dis
charges are presented. The probes estimated to be characterized by a time r
esponse better than 0.5 ns, with very good electric noise rejection. The pr
obes have identified a fast ionization wave in the prebreakdown phase of a
hollow cathode initiated fast pulsed capillary discharge. (C) 2001 American
Institute of Physics.