Dynamics of plasma evolution in a nanosecond underwater discharge

A positive discharge in water is generated by applying a 30ns high-voltage (HV) pulse on a micrometre scale electrode. The applied voltage ranges from 6 to 15kV and a fast plasma propagating mode is launched with a velocity of up to 60kms^-1. Time-resolved shadowgraphy and spectroscopy are performed to monitor the time evolution of the discharge structure and of the plasma emission spectra. By analysing the dynamics of the shock front velocity and the lateral expansion of the plasma channel, it is possible to estimate the pressure at the ignition of the plasma by two independent methods: very good agreement is found at 6kV giving initial pressures of 0.4GPa and 0.3GPa, respectively. At 15kV, only the shock front velocity method is applicable under our experimental conditions, giving an estimate of the initial pressure of 5.8GPa. Such high initial pressures show that, under a nanosecond HV pulse, the plasma is ignited directly in the dense phase. Emission spectra show a strong continuum emission as well as a broad Balmer line with a strong red shift, with an estimate of the initial plasma density of 1.3×10²⁶m^-3. The relaxation of discharge pressure and plasma density is studied under a series of six successive pulses.