Shock Waves due to Pulsed Streamer Discharges in Water

Abstract

The temporal development of shock waves generated by pulsed streamer discharges in water was observed by means of time-resolved imaging based on the laser Schlieren method. The pressure of these shock waves was calculated using the Hugoniot equations, which use the relationship between the shock wave pressure and shock wave velocity. The streamer discharges were generated by applying pulsed positive voltages to a needle electrode. The measurements indicate that pressures exceeding 1 GPa occur in the vicinity of the streamer discharges.