Project Description: |
The dielectric breakdown of air in the upper atmosphere has the potential to be environmentally restorative and technologically disastrous. High power microwaves will be used to induce dielectric breakdown in air in order to study the breakdown’s dependence on pressure, diffusion length, temperature and gas composition. The experimental results will inform our understanding of breakdown kinetics, but will also have application goals of stratospheric ozone generation and avionics reliability. We will focus on measurement of breakdown electric fields of air, and its components. You will learn how to use a residual gas analyzer to observe the production of ozone during microwave induced breakdown. This research will include some classroom instruction on the research topic along with required group meetings. |
