Title :
Investigation of the optical and electrical characteristics of a spark gap
Author :
Greason, William D. ; Kucerovsky, Zdenek ; Bulach, Sviatoslav ; Flatley, Martin W.
Author_Institution :
Fac. of Eng. Sci., Univ. of Western Ontario, London, Ont., Canada
Abstract :
A spark-gap apparatus and a high-speed optoelectronic measurement system were used to examine the optical and electrical characteristics of spark discharges. Parameters studied included the magnitude and polarity of the discharge voltage, gap length, and the impedance of the discharge circuit. Analyses were performed to compare the measured optical signatures as a function of the discharge current. Results of the experimentally measured parameters compare well with theoretically computed values. The work has application in the study of electrostatic discharge (ESD) events
Keywords :
arcs (electric); electric impedance measurement; electrostatic discharge; optical variables measurement; optoelectronic devices; photodiodes; spark gaps; voltage measurement; ESD events; arc discharges; discharge circuit impedance; discharge current; discharge voltage magnitude; discharge voltage polarity; electrical characteristics; electrostatic discharge; gap length; optical characteristics; photodiodes; spark discharges; spark gap; Circuit analysis; Electric variables; Electric variables measurement; Electrostatic discharge; Electrostatic measurements; High speed optical techniques; Impedance; Performance analysis; Spark gaps; Voltage;
Journal_Title :
Industry Applications, IEEE Transactions on
