Plasma dynamics in an arc formed by Low-voltage sparkover of a liquid dielectric

SummaryAn algorithm is derived for the physical conditions in a low-current electrical discharge initiated by low-voltage sparkover between plane electrodes immersed in a liquid dielectric. Calculated results are concerned with column-pressure, temperature, voltage gradient, electron density and column radius for a discharge in a liquid nitrogen dielectric. Of these only column radius can be studied experimentally; experimental results are shown to compare reasonably well with predicted results.