Discharge Development in a Saline Solution at the Above-The-Threshold Voltages

The process of a breakdown in a saline solution in a pin – plane electrode geometry is investigated for the interelectrode gap of 1 cm and a 3% NaCl concentration in the water. Single voltage pulses of about 2 ms duration and amplitude of a few kilovolts are applied to the gap. A current of up to units of kiloamps is passed through the gap. It is shown that a necessary condition for the discharge to form is the availability of gaseous cavities in the electrolyte. The stages of discharge development are investigated at the voltages applied to the gap, which exceed the threshold value (at which plasma forms in the gas cavities). An analysis of the influence of the processes of formation and collapse of gas cavities in the solution and plasma in the cavities on the shape and value of the discharge current is performed.