Date of Award

Fall 12-5-2024

Embargo Period

12-6-2024

Access Type

Thesis - Open Access

Degree Name

Master of Science in Engineering Physics

Department

Physical Sciences

Committee Chair

Jeremy Riousset

Committee Co-Chair

Aroh Barjatya

Committee Advisor

Byonghoon Seo

First Committee Member

Edwin Mierkiewicz

Second Committee Member

John M. Hughes

College Dean

Peter Hoffmann

Abstract

The initiation of electrical discharges, particularly glow discharges, plays a significant role in industry and environmental science, affecting systems such as electronics, power grids, and atmospheric phenomena. Despite extensive studies and applications of Paschen's law, current methodologies for experimental Paschen tests in direct current (DC) conditions lack standardized practices. This thesis presents the development and validation of a DC-based standard for electrical discharge initiation, using the BEnch for Automated Measurements of Electrical Discharges (BeAMED). BeAMED is designed to standardize the experimental process by automating electrical discharges' initiation and data acquisition. The autonomous nature of the system provides insights into the influence of secondary electron emission and electrode configuration on Paschen curve behavior while limiting human interaction and error. This research integrates Riousset et al. (2024)'s generalized Townsend theory, accounting for variations in electrode geometries, and introduces a new framework for error assessment in experimental data. The findings support a more comprehensive understanding of discharge initiation mechanics and propose a robust modeling technique applicable across uniform and non-uniform geometries. The results contribute to the reliability of Paschen curve predictions and establish a replicable standard for future experimental setups in electrical discharge research.

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