“Student prize paper”: The effects of hydrostatic pressure on the gas accumulation following a single spark discharge in a liquid dielectric

Immediately following the breakdown of a liquid dielectric a variety of dynamic events appear. Initially, a highly luminescent, thin, plasma column is formed followed by a radially expanding mechanical shock wave. In the process, a gaseous bubble composed of vaporized dielectric is created. The study described here is concerned with this bubble. Specifically, investigations were made into the effects of hydrostatic pressure upon the dynamics of the gas bubble.