Time resolved electron density and temperature measurements via Thomson scattering in an atmospheric nanosecond pulsed discharge

Abstract

This work details electron density and temperature measurements within an atmospheric nanosecond repetitively pulsed discharge in air using Thomson scattering. High voltage pulses up to 15 kV were applied to a pin-to-pin electrode configuration at several repetition frequencies to determine the effect of successive pulses on the electron parameters. Electron densities on the order of 1017 cm−3 are measured within hundreds of nanoseconds after the discharge, with densities of 1014 cm−3 still present in the region up to 20 μs after the initial pulse discharge. Subsequent high voltage pulses reignite the plasma, increasing the electron density from the previous pulse if the repetition frequency is above a critical value. Electron temperatures and densities were recorded at various times after the initial pulse and between subsequent pulses.