This monograph
is the most comprehensive text ever written on the subject of runaway electrons
in dense (atmospheric pressure) gases. At certain high-field conditions, caused
by large applied fields or space charge accumulation, and greatly exceeding the
self-breakdown value, electrons can acquire more energy along one free path
than is necessary to compensate for losses due to elastic and inelastic
collisions with neutral atoms or molecules. This phenomenon is an important
feature in the early stages of electric breakdown of dense gases leading to the
ignition of gas discharges.
The book was
written by an expert in this field, by Professor Leonid P. Babich, who,
starting with publications in the early 1970s, has made several important
contributions to the subject. Also his Ph.D. dissertation (1973) and his Dr.
Sc. Thesis, completed in 1985, were devoted to the subject. The book covers the
history of the concept of runaway electrons, experimental evidence in
atmospheric discharges and in laboratory plasmas, and devotes ample space to
the discussion of the physical assumptions involved in different approaches and
to the theoretical treatment of runaway electrons in dense gases. The role of
photons for releasing secondary electrons from the cathode or leading to volume
ionization in the gas in the different models is discussed. One of the most
important features of this book is the extensive coverage and critical
evaluation of a very large number of pertinent scientific publications,
including many contributions from the former Soviet Union, many of which
appeared only in Russian. No doubt, this book will soon become the standard
reference source for investigations on electrical breakdown of high-pressure
gases.
Ulrich
Kogelschatz
December 23,
2002