Formation of Discharges between Glass Insulated Electrodes in Ne + 1% N₂ Mixtures. II. Frequency Dependence and Discharge Modes

Abstract

SummaryDischarges between glazed electrodes for p = 2.67 kPa Ne + 1% N, and pd = 1.3 kPa cm (p = gas pressure, d = electrode dietance) are investigated. They are snetsined by a sine wave voltage of variable frequency 1. Measurements of the space time structure of the radiation emimion provide information of the build up and quenching of discharges and of the structure of the fully developed ac-discharge.It is shown that the discharge types for the different values of frequency and amplitude of the sine wave sustaining voltage are dynamically developed Townsend and glow discharges. For f 5 4 kHz the optical structure and its temporal behaviour largely depends on the increment of the Sustaining voltage. For f 2 20 kHz the axial structure of radiation emission is modified by the influence of consecutive discharges due to residual ions (f 20 kEz) and mehatable Ne(3PI)-atoms (f > 20 kHz) existing for several periods of sine wave. The Penning effect of metastable Ne-atoms with N, molecules then produces start electrons for each discharge in a sequence which improve the initial conditions for the breakdown. Relations between space time structure and breakdown voltage as a function of frequency f are discussed.