An Attempt to Verify the Theory of the Long Spark of Loeb and Meek

Leon H. Fisher

doi:10.1103/PhysRev.72.423

Access by Xinjiang University

An Attempt to Verify the Theory of the Long Spark of Loeb and Meek

Leon H. Fisher^*

Department of Physics, University of California, Berkeley, California

^*Now at New York University, University Heights, New York.

PDF

Phys. Rev. 72, 423 – Published 1 September, 1947

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRev.72.423

Abstract

In an attempt to verify the theory of the long spark of Loeb and Meek, d.c. sparking potentials in a plane parallel gap in air have been measured as a function of plate separation and pressure at and below atmospheric pressure. Below atmospheric pressure, the sparking-potential curve as a function of gap length at constant pressure, displays a peculiar levelling-off at large gap lengths. This has been shown to be due to field distortion of a pressure-dependent type. This field distortion is, in large measure, caused by the walls of the large chamber used in this study. This field distortion prevented the verification of the Loeb-Meek theory. However, there is considerable evidence for believing the results at atmospheric pressure to be valid. Meek's equation represents the data accurately at atmospheric pressure. Water vapor causes a small but definite scattering in sparking potentials.

References (15)

J. M. Meek, Phys. Rev. 57, 722 (1940)
L. B. Loeb and J. M. Meek, J. App. Phys. 11, 438, 459 (1940)
L. B. Loeb and J. M. Meek, The Mechanism of the Electric Spark (Stanford University Press, Stanford, 1941)
F. W. Peek, Jr., Dielectric Phenomena in High-Voltage Engineering (McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc., New York, 1929), p. 73
L. H. Fisher, Phys. Rev. 69, 530 (1946)
F. H. Sanders, Phys. Rev. 41, 667 (1932)
D. Q. Posin, Phys. Rev. 50, 650 (1936)
L. S. Taylor, Bur. of Stand. J. Research 5, 609 (1930)
K. S. Fitzsimmons, Phys. Rev. 61, 175 (1942)
W. R. Haseltine, Phys. Rev. 58, 188 (1940)
W. O. Schumann, Elektrische Durchbruchfeldstärke von Gasen (Julius Springer, Berlin, 1923), p. 26
[11], p. 173
L. H. Fisher and G. L. Weissler, Phys. Rev. 66, 95 (1944)
L. B. Loeb, Fundamental Processes of Electrical Discharge in Gases (John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 1939), p. 550
L. E. Reukema, Trans. A.I.E.E. 47, 38 (1928)

[c1] J. M. Meek, Phys. Rev. 57, 722 (1940)

[c2] L. B. Loeb and J. M. Meek, J. App. Phys. 11, 438, 459 (1940)

[c3] L. B. Loeb and J. M. Meek, The Mechanism of the Electric Spark (Stanford University Press, Stanford, 1941)

[c4] F. W. Peek, Jr., Dielectric Phenomena in High-Voltage Engineering (McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc., New York, 1929), p. 73

[c5] L. H. Fisher, Phys. Rev. 69, 530 (1946)

[c6] F. H. Sanders, Phys. Rev. 41, 667 (1932)

[c7] D. Q. Posin, Phys. Rev. 50, 650 (1936)

[c8] L. S. Taylor, Bur. of Stand. J. Research 5, 609 (1930)

[c9] K. S. Fitzsimmons, Phys. Rev. 61, 175 (1942)

[c10] W. R. Haseltine, Phys. Rev. 58, 188 (1940)

[c11] W. O. Schumann, Elektrische Durchbruchfeldstärke von Gasen (Julius Springer, Berlin, 1923), p. 26

[c12] [11], p. 173

[c13] L. H. Fisher and G. L. Weissler, Phys. Rev. 66, 95 (1944)

[c14] L. B. Loeb, Fundamental Processes of Electrical Discharge in Gases (John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 1939), p. 550

[c15] L. E. Reukema, Trans. A.I.E.E. 47, 38 (1928)

Physical Review Journals Archive

Export citation

Export citation

An Attempt to Verify the Theory of the Long Spark of Loeb and Meek

Abstract

References (15)

Outline

Information

Filter

Filter

Article Lookup

Enter a citation