Study of gas dynamic effects in non-uniform high pressure electrical discharges

This report examines gas dynamic stabilization of high pressure, highly non-uniform electrical discharges for two electrode geometries. The geometries studied are the multiple-point to plane and the multiple-wire to plane. A successful analytical model is developed utilizing the anode extension concept, which describes the interaction and stabilizing effects of flow, separating the effects of convection and turbulence, in the point-plane geometry. Comparisons of theory and data are presented, illustrating actual observed and calculated breakdown voltages and currents for a number of cases. Flow stabilized high power density electric discharges are applicable to high power electric discharge lasers, magnetohydrodynamic power generation, and other new systems and technologies.