Discharge current and ultrashort avalanche electron beam current in a volume nanosecond gas discharge in inhomogeneous electric field

The moment of generation of an ultrashort avalanche electron beam (UAEB) relative to the discharge current pulse front has been determined in a volume discharge formed upon nanosecond breakdown of an air gap at atmospheric pressure in an inhomogeneous electric field. The UAEB current reaches maximum on the front of the discharge current pulse, ∼100 ps before the peak of this current. Bias currents with amplitude above 1 kA have been observed. The amplitude of this current increases due to the charging of a capacitor formed by the flat metal anode and a dense discharge plasma expanding from the cathode.