An investigation of the V-I characteristics of electrical discharges in Argon and their dependence on gap length and pressure

An analysis of the voltage-current characteristics of an electrical plasma discharge in a static argon environment has been conducted. Eight specific cylindrical electrode point to plane geometries were studied representing variations in electrode material, point cone angle and tip radii. Relations were developed governing characteristics such as threshold and breakdown voltages, critical field strength and general shape of the voltage vs. current (V-I) curve, of each of the Townsend, coronal and arc phases of the discharge. These relations were fit to experimental data to obtain approximate values for the unknown constants and to determine their variation with gap spacing and pressure. Trends in the V-I characteristics with respect to changes in electrode geometry have also been identified.