A comparison between spectra of runaway electron beams in SF6 and air

Runaway electron (RAE) with extremely high-energy plays important role on the avalanche propagation, streamer formation, and ionization waves in nanosecond-pulse discharges. In this paper, the generation of a supershort avalanche electron beam (SAEB) in SF6 and air in an inhomogeneous electric field is investigated. A VPG-30-200 generator with a pulse rise time of ∼1.6 ns and a full width at half maximum of 3–5 ns is used to produce RAE beams. The SAEBs in SF6 and air are measured by using aluminum foils with different thicknesses. Furthermore, the SAEB spectra in SF6 and air at pressures of 7.5 Torr, 75 Torr, and 750 Torr are compared. The results showed that amplitude of RAE beam current generated at the breakdown in SF6 was approximately an order of magnitude less than that in air. The energy of SAEB in air was not smaller than that in SF6 in nanosecond-pulse discharges under otherwise equal conditions. Moreover, the difference between the maximum energy of the electron distributions in air and SF6 dec...

[1]  V. Tarasenko,et al.  On the parameters of runaway electron beams and on electrons with an “anomalous” energy at a subnanosecond breakdown of gases at atmospheric pressure , 2015 .

[2]  V. Tarasenko,et al.  Dynamics of ionization processes in high-pressure nitrogen, air, and SF6 during a subnanosecond breakdown initiated by runaway electrons , 2015 .

[3]  V. Tarasenko,et al.  Features of recording the time profile of single picosecond pulses in the real-time mode , 2015 .

[4]  V. Tarasenko,et al.  Conditions for uniform impact of the plasma of a runaway-electron-induced pulsed diffuse discharge on an anode , 2015 .

[5]  N. Koval,et al.  Reconstruction of electron beam energy spectra for vacuum and gas diodes , 2015 .

[6]  Cheng Zhang,et al.  Bent paths of a positive streamer and a cathode-directed spark leader in diffuse discharges preionized by runaway electrons , 2015 .

[7]  V. Tarasenko,et al.  Generation of runaway electrons and X-ray emission during breakdown of atmospheric-pressure air by voltage pulses with an ∼0.5-μs front duration , 2015 .

[8]  Cheng Zhang,et al.  Generation of super-short avalanche electron beams in SF6 , 2014 .

[9]  Cheng Zhang,et al.  Effect of cathode materials on the generation of runaway electron beams and X-rays in atmospheric pressure air , 2013 .

[10]  S. B. Alekseev,et al.  Gradual Tuning of the Current Pulse Width Within 1-0.03 ns in Gas-Filled Diodes of Nanosecond Electron Accelerators , 2013, IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science.

[11]  Cheng Zhang,et al.  Repetitive nanosecond-pulse discharge in a highly nonuniform electric field in atmospheric air: X-ray emission and runaway electron generation , 2012 .

[12]  G. Mesyats,et al.  Observation of the avalanche of runaway electrons in air in a strong electric field. , 2012, Physical review letters.

[13]  Steven A. Cummer,et al.  High-Energy Atmospheric Physics: Terrestrial Gamma-Ray Flashes and Related Phenomena , 2012, Space Science Reviews.

[14]  Yoav Yair,et al.  Lightning Related Transient Luminous Events at High Altitude in the Earth’s Atmosphere: Phenomenology, Mechanisms and Effects , 2012 .

[15]  G. Mesyats,et al.  On the generation and disruption of a picosecond runaway electron beam during the breakdown of an atmospheric-pressure gas gap , 2012 .

[16]  V. A. Bogachenkov,et al.  Bremsstrahlung of fast electrons in long air gaps , 2012 .

[17]  G. Mesyats,et al.  On the observed energy of runaway electron beams in air , 2011 .

[18]  A. M. Boichenko,et al.  On the influence of the voltage pulse rise time and cathode geometry on the generation of a supershort avalanche electron beam , 2011 .

[19]  G. Mesyats,et al.  Laboratory demonstration of runaway electron breakdown of air , 2011 .

[20]  V. Tarasenko,et al.  An efficient cathode for generating an supershort avalanche electron beam in air at atmospheric pressure , 2010 .

[21]  E. H. Baksht,et al.  Spectrum of fast electrons in a subnanosecond breakdown of air-filled diodes at atmospheric pressure , 2010, 2010 IEEE International Power Modulator and High Voltage Conference.

[22]  L. Babich,et al.  Peculiarities of detecting pulses of runaway electrons and X-rays generated by high-voltage nanosecond discharges in open atmosphere , 2010 .

[23]  V. Tarasenko,et al.  Supershort Avalanche Electron Beams and X-rays in Atmospheric-Pressure Air , 2010, IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science.

[24]  S. Cummer,et al.  Spectral dependence of terrestrial gamma‐ray flashes on source distance , 2009 .

[25]  V. Tarasenko,et al.  Generation of supershort avalanche electron beams and formation of diffuse discharges in different gases at high pressure , 2008 .

[26]  V. Tarasenko,et al.  Nanosecond discharge in sulfur hexafluoride and the generation of an ultrashort avalanche electron beam , 2008 .

[27]  L. Babich,et al.  Peculiarities of electrical breakdown in dense electronegative gases at high overvoltages , 2005 .