Prebreakdown phase of an interelectrode discharge in water

Results are presented from experimental studies of the prebreakdown phase of an electric discharge between point (anode) and plane (cathode) electrodes immersed in water with different initial conductivity. When a high-voltage pulse is applied, the induced conductivity is detected in the discharge gap. Its value is one order of magnitude higher than the initial conductivity. It is shown that the induced conductivity increases almost linearly with the initial conductivity. The induced conductivity correlates with the UV emission from the cathode surface. A qualitative analysis of the experimental results is performed