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VOLUME 59 (1994) | ISSUE 10 | PAGE 655
Microwave breakdown of ionic crystals initiated by a secondary-emission discharge
A new type of breakdown has been observed in single microwave pulses. This breakdown takes the form of a contracted discharge along the surface of the crystal, accompanied by a pronounced (up to 100%) absorption of the radiation, evaporation of the material of the test sample, and ionization of this material. The breakdown is preceded by a nonresonant secondary-emission discharge. The electron density in the conduction band of the crystal is estimated to reach 102' cm~3 in the course of the breakdown. It is suggested that the breakdown is due to the buildup of a high concentration of time-varying color centers during the discharge.