Single-gap pseudospark discharge experiments

An experimental investigation of a single-gap pseudospark was conducted using a flexible discharge chamber. The voltage breakdown characteristics were studied against a wide range of parameters such as gas pressure, gap separation, cathode cavity depth, cathode aperture size, external capacitance and applied voltage. An empirical formula, V-B=(0.20 +/-0.05) p(-4.02 +/-0.18) d(-1.77 +/-0.01), was obtained for the breakdown voltage V-B in kV, given the gas pressure p in Torr and the gap separation d in mm. The electron beam extracted from this single gap was also studied and a current of up to 100 A was measured at 10 kV.