Ionization Waves in Electrical Breakdown of Gases

Wave phenomena determining discharge development in gas gaps @ dynamics of streamers: development of an electron avalanche; propagation of anode and cathode-directed streamers; Ionization waves in discharge tubes and in a sliding discharge formation system: experimental study of ionization waves in discharge tubes; formation of a sliding discharge @ Macroscopic and kinetic description of a weakly ionized gas in an electric field @ basic macroscopic equations; local approach for the frequency of impact ionization: Townsend ionization coefficient and frequency of ionizatin by an electronic impact; conditions of applicability of the local approach-equation @ Theory of plane ionization waves @ stationary plane electric breakdown waves: ionization-drift models of anode and cathode-directed waves; influence of diffusion and photoprocesses on the plane breakdown waves; general properties of nonstationary ionization fronts: integrals of nonstationary equations-reduction of a general problem to the Cauchy problem for the elctric field distribution; solution of the Cauchy problem by method of characteristics; dynamics of formation of anode and cathode-directed waves from initial nonuniformities: asymptotic behavior of solution of the Cauchy problem for a finite initial distribution of electron concentraton; development of ionization waves from infinitely extended distribution of electron concentration @ Propagation of ionizing electric-field solitary waves in shielded discharge tubes with preionization @ basic equations and assumptions; effect of surface wave on the formation of ionization wave; averaging two-dimensional equations and formulation of quasi-one-dimensional model; numerical simulation of stationary waves; analytical model of ionization waves; specialized problems of theory of breakdown waves in tubes with preionization: limiting transition of nonlinear model of electric potential diffusion; emergence of oscillatin structure of ionization wave; effect of a longitudinal magnetic field on structure of fast ionization wave @ Propagation of electric breakdown waves along a gas-dielectric boundary with no preionization @ breakdown waves in shielded tubes without preionization: taking account of associative ionization and resonance radiation transfer; results of numerical calculations of breakdown stationary waves; analytical estimate of breakdown wave velocity; propagation of sliding discharge front as an ionization wave: assumed equations and problem statement; formulating a calculated model of stationary wave; structure and velocity of front propagation; slow breakdown waves in shielded tubes: features of quasi-one-dimensional solution describing slow waves; influence of longitudinal magnetic field on the structure of slow waves; solitary waves of electric field as source of runaway electrons