Surface potential mapping of an argon lamp during electrical breakdown

Author

Gendre, Maxime F. ; Bowden, Mark D. ; Van den Nieuwenhuizen, Huub C M ; Haverlag, Marco ; Gielen, John W A M ; Kroesen, Gerrit M W

Author_Institution

Dept. of Appl. Phys., Eindhoven Univ. of Technol., Netherlands

Volume

33

Issue

2

fYear

2005

fDate

4/1/2005 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

262

Lastpage

263

Abstract

In this paper, we present measurements related to the early stages of electrical breakdown occurring in a low-pressure argon straight discharge tube. A capacitive probe was used to retrieve the evolution of the lamp electrostatic potential over time and space. The potential and calculated electric field, displayed in space-time diagrams, show that a region of strong potential gradient propagates from the cathode toward the anode and then backward. This is followed by a homogenization of the electric field in the inter-electrode space.

Keywords

anodes; argon; cathodes; discharge lamps; discharges (electric); gas-discharge tubes; plasma probes; surface potential; Ar; anode; argon lamp; capacitive probe; cathode; electric field homogenization; electrical breakdown; interelectrode space; lamp electrostatic potential; low-pressure argon straight discharge tube; space-time diagrams; surface potential mapping; Argon; Cathodes; Electric breakdown; Electric potential; Electric variables measurement; Electron tubes; Electrostatic measurements; Lamps; Probes; Surface discharges; Capacitive probe; discharge lamp; electrical breakdown; ionization wave; lamp ignition; plasma; surface probe;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Plasma Science, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0093-3813

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/TPS.2005.845947

Filename

1420427