A system for measuring the current-density distribution of a completed pulsed corona discharge

A high-speed multichannel system for measuring the current density distribution of a completed pulsed corona discharge, which is based on a 32-bit microcontroller, was developed. The system allows the current-density distribution on a grounded electrode-collector to be determined for both negative and positive (back) coronas. The measurement results are transmitted to a personal computer, where they are processed and visualized. The device provides the possibility of measuring the current-density distribution for a single pulse and operating in the mode of storing the measurement results. The sampling time in one measurement channel does not exceed 1 mu s, which allows measurements at a current-pulse repetition frequency of a few kilohertz with 64 operated channels. The number of measuring channels is multiple of 16 and limited by the type of the used microcontroller. When appropriate sensors are used, the system can be used to measure the current-density distribution of charged-particle beams with large cross-sectional areas.