Methods of Plasma Excitation.

Abstract : This report covers three areas. The first section deals with microwave excitation of small volumes. The work emphasized microwave excitation on mercury bromide. In addition, some discharges were performed in silane gas mixes and in sulphur. The florescence produced by the gas is studied as a function of discharge parameters. The transient conductivity of 1/9 nitrogen/argon gas mixes in pulsed high power atmospheric pressure discharges is studied in the second section. The discharge was produced in a U.V. preionized gas and produced a peak current of about 10 amps per square centimeter. The voltage from a capacitor bank was applied to the discharge electrodes by means of triggered spark gap a set delay after the surface preionizers had fired. Data is presented that shows the transient discharge voltage and current as well as the power dissipated in the gas and the resistivity of the discharge as a function of time.