Breakdown delay time in phototriggered discharges

The breakdown delay times of phototriggered discharges for binary neon/xenon, neon/HCl mixtures and neon/xenon/HCl mixtures were investigated. The results showed that direct ionization from the ground-state atoms and molecules determined the breakdown delay times. However, when the reduced electric field and the concentration in minor gases had low values, Penning effects determined the breakdown delay times.