Investigation of positive and negative modes of nanosecond pulsed discharge in water and electrostriction model of initiation

Yohan Seepersad, Mikhail Pekker, Mikhail N. Shneider, Alexander Fridman, Danil Dobrynin

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63 Scopus citations

Abstract

This work investigates the development of nanosecond pulsed discharges in water ignited with the application of both positive and negative polarity pulses to submerged pin-to-plane electrodes. Optical diagnostics are used to study two main aspects of these discharges: the initiation phase, and the development phase. Nanosecond pulses up to 24 kV with 4 ns rise time, 10 ns duration and 5 ns fall time are used to ignite discharges in a 1.5 mm gap between a copper plate and a tungsten needle with radius of curvature of 25 m. Fast ICCD imaging is used to trace the discharge development over varying applied pulse amplitudes for both positively and negatively applied pulses to the pin electrode. The discharge is found to progress similar to that of discharges in long gaps - long sparks - in gases, both in structure and development. The more important initiation phase is investigated via schlieren transmission imaging. The region near the tip of the electrode is investigated for slightly under-breakdown conditions, and changes in the liquid's refractive index and density are observed over the duration of the applied pulse. An attempt to explain the results is made based on the electrostriction model of discharge initiation.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number355201
JournalJournal of Physics D: Applied Physics
Volume46
Issue number35
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 4 2013

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Acoustics and Ultrasonics
  • Surfaces, Coatings and Films

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