Nanosecond-Pulse Microwave Breakdown in Air

Abstract

Nanosecond-pulse microwave breakdown in air is derived by means of an improved technique. Breakdown data have been obtained by using dc pulse breakdown methods in a region where breakdown is controlled only by gas processes. The data so obtained show good agreement with properly modified microwave breakdown theory and, when plotted in terms of the same parameters, good agreement with previous normalized pulsed microwave results. Calculated results for microwave breakdown fields as a function of pulse length (10−9 to 10−7 sec), frequency (1 to 27 GHz), and air pressure (10−1 to 760 Torr) are given.