Spectrum of prebreakdown light and temporal correlation of prebreakdown current and light pulses at a point cathode in hexane

Author

Donald Neal Pittman

Date of Award

12-1988

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Electrical Engineering

Major Professor

Marshall O. Pace

Committee Members

Vaughn Blalock, Igor Alexeff

Abstract

Prebreakdown current and light emission were investigated at a 3 micron tip radius needle cathode in hexane stressed by a dc power supply. A gap separation of 5 mm was used, producing a nominal electric field of 10⁹ V/m. The spectral intensity of the light emission was measured in intervals of 10 nm for wavelengths ranging from 330 to 620 nm. Spectral peaks were detected at 430, 510, and 590 nm which corresponded to an intense spectral band at 431.25 nm produced from hydrocarbon reactions like those found in the sun s atmosphere, and a spectral line at 590 nm that is associated with hydrocarbons at high pressure. The temporal correlation of the light and current pulses was also determined. The results from the correlation sjuggested that the current leads the light by one to six nanoseconds. The resolution of this measurement was limited by the effective sampling period of 2.5 nsec.

Recommended Citation

Pittman, Donald Neal, "Spectrum of prebreakdown light and temporal correlation of prebreakdown current and light pulses at a point cathode in hexane. " Master's Thesis, University of Tennessee, 1988.
https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_gradthes/13306