Dielectric breakdown characteristics of a high current metal vapor plasma

Abstract

Time- and spatially-resolved spectroscopy is used to study the early-time spectral features of the plasmas produced by high-current, capacitive discharges through thin silver films. Spectra are compared for several support gases including CO2, He, and an Ar/O2 mixture. All measurements were made during the first 40 [mu]s of the discharge. At atmospheric pressure for all three gases, spectra from support gas species show intense lines for only a brief interval between 10 and 30 [mu]s after the start of the discharge. Greatest intensity from silver lines always occurs at the film surface; while greatest intensity from support gas species occurs about 2.0 mm from the film surface. A magnetic field of a few kG normal to the electric field in the plasma and parallel to the thin film surface almost completely eliminates spectral lines from the support gas species.