Gasodynamic propagation of nonequilibrium microwave discharges

Results of experimental investigations of the dynamics of high-pressure discharge in the air at high (> or approximately 1 kW/cm2) microwave radiation flux densities are presented. With a growth of microwave radiation power the character of ionization is shown to be changeable from equilibrium to nonequilibrium accompanied by gas temperature decrease; in this case microwave radiation attenuation factor in a nonequilibrium discharge increases as an efficiency of power contribution to gas. Distribution of a nonequilibrium discharge as well as an equilibrium one at high radiation powers is related to ohmic gas heating in a plasma halo produced proper ultra-violet radiation of discharge