Multi-phase AC plasma generators

Summary form only given. A two-stage facility was created for exploration of powerful electric discharge in gas of alternate corpuscle concentration of 1022-1023 cm/sup -3/. The adiabatic compression of gas by the piston is performed at the first stage of the facility operation. Once the maximum pressure in the chamber is achieved the discharge of capacitive storage is ignited. The heated gas exhausts from the discharge chamber through the diaphragm unit. The following parameters were measured during the experiments: voltage drop on the arc, current, arc resistance, pressure in the chamber and concentration of alternate corpuscles. The results of the experiments allow to define the configuration of the electrode system providing stable arc burning at high gas pressure. It was founded that efficiency of energy transfer from arc to gas is close to 100% under these conditions (gas pressure and concentration of alternate corpuscles).