Формирование микроканальной структуры искрового разряда в воздухе в промежутке острие-плоскость"

The formation of the microchannel structure of a spark discharge in the gap spike (cathode)-plane of 1.5 mm length in the air of atmospheric pressure was studied by the method of shadow photography. The images with the concurrent descent of microchannel diameter sand the number of microchannel increase in the cathode region on the time interval of 5 ns were recorded. The obtained data are explained in the frames of the microstructure formation mechanism at the expense of the front instability of the ionization wave. The parameters characterizing the process of the microstructure formation are estimated, and they agree with the experimental data.