The temporal development of prebreakdown electron currents in nitrogen at atmospheric pressure and in a uniform electric field is investigated. These gap currents were determined by observation of changes in potential across a resistor in series with the one cm. long gap. While in previous work avalanche initiating electrons were released mainly through the use of spark gap radiation, here a short duration nitrogen laser pulse released electrons from the cathode. It has been found that the bridging of the gap by a solid, cylindrical insulating spacer alters the electron avalanche growth. A theoretical model is proposed to account for this previously unreported modification.
Une etude est faite sur le developpement temporel avant rupture de courants d'electrons dans 1'azote atmospherique et dans un champ electrique uniforme. Ces courants d'intervalle ont et£ determines par 1'observation de changements de potentiel sur une resistance en serie avec l'intervalle d'un centimetre de longueur. Tandis que lors d'une experience precedente les avalanches d'electrons etaient principalement libelees par le biais d'un rayonnement d'eclateur, des electrons sont, dans notre cas, liberes par la cathode a la suite d'une impulsion d'azote au laser de courte duree. II a ete etabli que le pontage de l'intervalle a l'aide d'un intermediaire isolant massif cylindrique altere le developpement d'avalanches d'electrons.Un modele theorique est propose, qui explique cette modification auparavant non enregistree.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.