SPARK GAP DYNAMICS


    1.  Spark gaps have been used as high voltage, high power switches  for 
    many years.

    2.   Switch  loss,  defined as the amount of energy  deposited  in  the 
    switch during the switching process, is mainly a result of gas  heating 
    due to the finite resistance of the arc channel.

    3.   There are two distinct phases which characterize the formation  of 
    an arc.

        a.   Phase  1: current begins to flow while the arc  resistance  is 
    relatively  high.   Resistance decreases to a finite value as  the  arc 
    develops and expands.
        
        b.   Phase  2: known as the conduction phase,  the  arc  resistance 
    stabilizes at a low but finite value

    4.  Resistive losses occur during both phases, but these losses can  be 
    especially  significant during the formative phase. (resistance  of  an 
    arc ranges from tenths of ohms to several ohms)

    5.  The I-V characteristics obtained during spark gap studies  indicate 
    that the peak spark gap current is not a function of the gas mixture in 
    the gap.


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