Dynamic behavior of light emissions generated by piezoelectric transformers

Piezoelectric transformers (PTs) can be utilized as discharge exciters in low-pressure conditions. The discharge is caused in the electric field produced by the polarization charge on the surface of the PT, and the light emission is observed around the PT. Spatial distributions of the light emission and the potential are observed. These results clearly show that potential distribution on the PT surface agrees fairly with spatial distribution of luminous intensity. Temporal variations of light emission are also captured using a charge coupled device camera system to investigate the dynamic behavior of light emission.