Characteristics of High-Current Pulse Discharge in Air with Ectonic Mechanism of Copper Vapor Injection into a Discharge Gap

Abstract

The characteristics of bipolar high-current nanosecond discharge in the air between the copper electrodes is described. With an inter-electrode gap of 1–2 mm and the air pressure of 0.05–3.0 atm the conditions for obtaining a homogeneous volume discharge in the inhomogeneous electric field, associated with the generation of a beam of a runaway electron and concomitant X-ray radiation, are realized. It is shown that this discharge is a simple point source of radiation in the spectral range of 200–230 nm on the transitions of singly charged copper ions. The results of the optimization of the UV-emitter depending on the pump conditions and parameters of the discharge medium are provided. It is found that under the influence of a discharge, a deposition of thin nanostructured membranes made of electrodes erosion products and products of dissociation of air molecules is possible.