Macroscopic Description of a Discharge Current in a Capillary Discharge System

Abstract

Based on a simple circuit model, the global properties of the electrical discharge in a capillary discharge system are investigated by analyzing the breakdown electron temperature in terms of the applied voltage. The electrical charge and current flowing through the capillary hole are calculated from a theoretical model and compared with experimental observations, providing valuable information pertaining to system inductance, discharge-plasma resistivity in terms of the applied voltage, the breakdown temperature of electrons, and the time-averaged plasma density. The response time of the electrical breakdown in the capillary hole is expressed in terms of the electron temperature and the applied voltage.