Influence of High-Intensity Standing Sound Wave Field on Intermittent Spark Discharge

Abstract

The work reported here, the behavior of intermittent spark discharges in high-intensity acoustical standing wave field was experimentally investigated. A point-point gap or positive-point-plane gap was located at the particle velocity antinode of an acoustical standing wave field, that was produced in a cylindrical acoustic tube. It can be obtained that the luminous part of intermittent spark discharges spread by the effect of high-intensity sound waves; spread to a section of rugby ball-like-shape with a point-point gap and spread to an open fan-like-shape with a positive point-plane gap. The relationship between spread width of luminous part of the discharges and the sound intensity was quantitatively measured and investigated.
As results, the spread width of luminous part of intermittent spark discharges varied in proportion to the amplitude of displacement of sound. It was considered that an air vibration that is particle velocity of sound forces spark discharges to swing and spread to open-shape. An amplitude of swinging spark discharges was in proportion to the particle displacement of sound rather than the speed of particle velocity of sound. The spread width of sparking was approximately 1.3 times as wide as the particle displacement of sound with a point-point gap and 1.7 times with a positive point-plane gap.