Single-gap pseudospark discharge experiments

An experimental investigation of a single-gap pseudospark was conducted usi ng a flexible discharge chamber. The voltage breakdown characteristics were studied against a wide range of parameters such as gas pressure, gap separ ation, cathode cavity depth, cathode aperture size, external capacitance an d applied voltage. An empirical formula, V-B=(0.20 +/-0.05) p(-4.02 +/-0.18 ) d(-1.77 +/-0.01), was obtained for the breakdown voltage V-B in kV, given the gas pressure p in Torr and the gap separation d in mm. The electron be am extracted from this single gap was also studied and a current of up to 1 00 A was measured at 10 kV. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.