Phys. Rev. Lett. 98, 075002 (2007) [4 pages]Measurements of Electric-Field Strengths in Ionization Fronts during Breakdown
See accompanying Physics Focus Using laser-induced fluorescence-dip Stark spectroscopy, we performed time-resolved, direct measurements of electric-field strengths during the breakdown phase of a low-pressure, pulsed discharge in xenon. With this experimental technique we could for the first time quantitatively measure the time evolution of the driving force of the plasma breakdown process: the electric field. Moving ionization fronts were measured with submicrosecond resolution. These ionization fronts were sustained by a spatially narrow, rapidly moving region of strong electric field. © 2007 The American Physical Society URL:
http://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevLett.98.075002
DOI:
10.1103/PhysRevLett.98.075002
PACS:
52.80.Dy, 51.50.+v, 52.38.Dx
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