Measurement of voltage rise curves due to gap discharge using coupled transmission lines in distributed constant line system

Very fast voltage rise curves due to gap discharge were examined to discuss an EMI source. The measurement system consists of a distributed constant line system, because the voltage transients were very rapid. A characteristic of the gap electrode, which has a matched impedance for the distributed constant line system, was investigated in the frequency range below 5 GHz. The voltages of the power source in the experiment were 510 V and 800 V because Paschen's law holds its stability in the air condition. It was confirmed that the measurement method enables one to measure high speed voltage rise curves of about 100 ps.