THE IMPACT IONIZATION AND ELECTRICAL BREAKDOWN STRENGTH FOR ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR LIQUIDS

The ionization electron avalanche development determines electrical breakdown strength of high electron mobility liquids Ar, Kr and Xe. The dc. and laser-induced breakdown strengths of these liquids are lower than low-density gas extrapolation values. This difference is the consequence of the absence of inelastic electron energy losses in liquids, In low electron mobility molecular liquids the electrical breakdown for a long pulse duration occurs via the 'bubble' mechanism, but with the shortening voltage pulse duration and gap length, the ionization avalanche mechanism would become more preferable. The interpretation is given on this basis of electric strength measurements for high-density supercritical vapors.