Abstract
THE object of my recent experiments1 was to bring out photographically what we have known for many years. With an adequate background of visual observation of spark formation, there is no difficulty in determining in general terms the sequence of occurrence of the different kinds of discharge. As the voltage applied to a point/plane gap is increased, the corona extending therefrom increases (I would not have described the volume of discharge as hemispherical in shape ; Fig. 5 in ref. 2 is a very typical shape for such a discharge), and near breakdown the concentrated bright streamers or leader strokes first become obvious extending over part of the gap as described in my communication in Nature1, The technique of chopping the spark with another spark gap in parallel enables the development of the leader stroke to be followed.
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References
Nature, 161, 970 (1948).
J. Inst. Elect. Eng., 82, 513 (1928).
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ALLIBONE, T. Letters to Editor. Nature 162, 264 (1948). https://doi.org/10.1038/162264a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/162264a0
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