Experimental study reveals laser space-charge injection alters impulse corona in point-plane gaps, indicating timing and small DC fields critically control electrical flash-over.
The pulse of a Q-switched ruby laser operated below the threshold for spark formation and focused in a point-plane gap can profoundly affect the development of impulse corona for times up to 1 sec. This effect can be strongly modified by the application of a small (10 V/mm) dc field across the gap. With a positive impulse to the point and a negative dc field, a change of 10 μsec in the delay time between charge injection and application of the voltage impulse can change the probability of gap flash-over from near zero to greater than 90%.
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Klewe et al. (1969) studied this question.