The transition of electrons to continuous acceleration mode at subnanosecond pulsed electric breakdown in high-pressure gases

The mode of continuous acceleration of electrons in pulsed nano- and subnanosecond gas discharges is of great importance for making a correct physical model of the pulsed electric breakdown of strongly over-volted gas gaps. ‘Runaway’ or ‘continuously accelerated’ electrons, crossing a discharge area, intensively ionize the gas along their way, which can considerably reduce the time to form breakdown. The creation of an optimum set of conditions for the transition of electrons to the mode of continuous acceleration will allow constructing new types of superfast high-pressure gas dischargers. In this research the experimental results of the registration of runaway electrons in subnanosecond discharges in high-pressure (up to 40 atm) nitrogen are given. In this experiment electrodes that provide the formation of electric field with uniform configuration in the discharge gap were used.