This book presents experimental and theoretical results on extremely powerful plasma generators. It addresses pulsed electrical mega-ampere arcs and the mechanisms of energy transfer from the arc into hydrogen, helium and air under pressures up to 250 MPa and currents up to 2 MA. Extreme plasma parameters and increased energy density in the arc were achieved. It was found experimentally that increasing the initial gas pressure to hundreds of MPa leads to improved arc stability, high efficiency of energy transfer from arc to gas, and plasma enthalpy growth. The data obtained data provides the basis for the development of electrophysical devices with high energy density, e.g. high intensity sources for visible, UV and X-ray irradiation for laser pumping, generators of high enthalpy plasma jets, and plasma chemical reactors.

The results of research carried out in the former Soviet Union and now in the CIS in the area of thermal plasma and all its applications are scattered throughout various monographs and journals published in Russian. Thermal Plasma and New Materials Technology is a unique up-to-date collection in the English language and provides the reader with a clear and comprehensive picture of numerous achievements by scientists from Russia, Ukraine and other countries of the former Soviet Union and the CIS.

This book highlights the latest progress in pulsed discharge plasmas presented by front-line researchers worldwide. The science and technology surrounding pulsed discharge plasmas is advanced through a wide scope of interdisciplinary studies into pulsed power and plasma physics. Pulsed discharge plasmas with high-power density, high E/N and high-energy electrons can effectively generate highly reactive plasma. Related applications have gathered strong interests in various fields. With contributions from global scientists, the book elaborates on the theories, numerical simulations, diagnostic methods, discharge characteristics and application technologies of pulsed discharge plasmas. The book is divided into three parts with a total of 35 chapters, including 11 chapters on pulsed discharge generation and mechanism, 12 chapters on pulsed discharge characterization and 12 chapters on pulsed discharge applications (wastewater treatments, biomedicine, surface modification, and energy conversion, etc). The book is a must-have reference for researchers and engineers in related fields and graduate students interested in the subject.

Pulsed-Power Systems describes the physical and technical foundations for the production and application of high-voltage pulses of very high-power and high-energy character. In the initial chapters, it addresses materials, components and the most common diagnostics. In the second part, three categories of applications with scientific and industrial relevance are detailed: production of strong pulsed electric and magnetic fields, intense radiation sources and pulsed electric (plasma) discharges.