Self-sustained volume discharge in c-C4F8

Abstract

This paper reports on first experimental study of a self-sustained volume discharge (SSVD) in c-C4F8. The discharge voltage and current oscillograms are taken over a wide range of gas pressures. How and why this discharge radically differs from that in other strongly electronegative gases is considered in terms of the theory of the vibrational relaxation in polyatomic molecules. For the first time an SSVD in c-C4F8 preheated by CO2-laser radiation has been investigated. The unusual behavior and temperature-dependent characteristics of this discharge are revealed. There is much discussion on the peculiarities of an SSVD in a preirradiated c-C4F8. To refine the static limiting field in c-C4F8 the static dielectric strength of c-C4F8 is measured on changing the gas pressure by nearly two orders of magnitude.