Pecularities of transition of a low-current microwave capacitive discharge with an electrolitic electrode in a high-current discharge

The results of experimental study of the transition of a low-current microwave capacitive discharge (MWCD) with an electrolytic electrode to a high-current one in the pressure range $P = 2 \times 10^3$–$10^5$ Pa are presented. It is established that the voltage of transition of a low-current MWCD to a high-current one depends strongly on pressure. It is shown that at $U \ge 3500$ V a high-current MWCD with an electrolyte jet passes to torch discharge. When a steel plate is immersed in the electrolyte, the voltage of transition of the low-current MWCD to the high-current one increases significantly. It is found that "streamer discharges" facilitate the transition of the low-current MWCD to the high-current one with an electrolytic electrode.