Ionization Waves in Electric Breakdown of Gases

The authors present a systematic theoretical treatment of phenomena that lead to electrical breakdown of gases and plasmas bounded by walls, including electron drift and impact ionization, diffusion, and photoionization. Starting with a review of breakdown waves in gas-filled gaps, the book continues with a discussion of the basic macroscopic equations, including the effects of the nonequilibrium kinetics of electrons and impact ionization. The authors then develop the theory of planar ionization waves, discussing conditions for the existence of waves, the formation of shocks, and the stability of stationary waves; they also discuss formation of solitary waves, nonlinear diffusion, mechanisms of propagation, and oscillations in the wake of an ionization wave. This work fills a gap in the Western literature by presenting details of Soviet and Russian results from the last decade.