Optical detection of surface discharges

The use of an optical detection system for measuring surface discharges is described. A photomultiplier tube (PM) transforms the photon pulses emitted by the discharge process into an electrical signal. To suppress the noise inherent to PM operation, filters were built in the amplitude- and time-domains. Results of discharge measurements showed that in some situations, the sensitivity of the optical system exceeds that of electrical methods.<
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