Electrode Plasma Jets in Powerful Pulsed Discharge in High-Pressure Gas

Electrode plasma jets formation and structure in powerful pulsed gas discharge at high pressures were investigated. Typical experimental parameters were current amplitude of 100-700 kA, pulse duration of 150-500 μs, current rise rate of ~10¹⁰ A/s, initial gas pressure of 1-10 MPa under which intense electrode plasma jets is being formed. Discharge was initiated by wire explosion. The structure of jets was studied by different high-speed diagnostic methods. The jet is shown to consist of a central metal zone surrounded by a gas plasma sheath in which, gas in flowed from the surrounding discharge channel space. Electrode plasma jets play a major role in heat and mass transfer between discharge channel and the surrounding gas.