title: Measurements of electric-field strengths in ionization fronts during breakdown.
abstract: Using laser-induced fluorescence-dip Stark spectroscopy, we performed time-resolved, direct measurements of electric-field strengths during the breakdown phase of a low-pressure, pulsed discharge in xenon. With this experimental technique we could for the first time quantitatively measure the time evolution of the driving force of the plasma breakdown process: the electric field. Moving ionization fronts were measured with submicrosecond resolution. These ionization fronts were sustained by a spatially narrow, rapidly moving region of strong electric field.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Physics, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wagenaars
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Bowden
authors.forename: G M W
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Kroesen