Michelson interferometer studies of temperature patterns in DC point-to-plane electrical discharges in air

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Abstract
A Michelson interferometer was used to study steady-state DC discharges in a point-to-plane gap of about 4 mm in ambient air. This interferometer made it possible to observe rectilinear fringes in the spark gap system. Isothermal curves for such discharges have been derived from the measurement of the displacement of the fringes due to heating of the system by the discharge. Various types of discharge were studied, mainly in the steady-state regimes with currents up to 1 mA, for both positive and negative points. Temperature rises exceeding 100 degrees C were found for the largest values of current and for currents exceeding 40 mu A the cathode was always hotter than the anode. The electric wind participates in the heat exchange process. These results are of interest because they supply information on energy balances and on glow to arc transitions for which a 'heating time' plays an important part.

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