Engineering Physics Annotation << Back Plasma discharge in cavitating liquid O.V. Abramov, V.O. Abramov, YU.V. Andriyanov, E.V. Kisterev, O.M. Gradov, A.V. Shekhtman, N.V. Klassen, M.S. Mullakaev, N.A. Bulychev In this work, the results of experiments dedicated to the plasma discharge in a cavitating liquid are reported. When the ultrasonic cavitation is implemented in a liquid, its phase composition and physical properties abruptly change, and this can lead to some specific features of the formation of electric discharge in the liquid. In the region of intense cavitation, the fraction of a gas-vapor component in the liquid has a significant value, therefore it can be assumed that the conditions of electric breakdown in the cavitation region should become easier, which can result in the initiation of different forms of discharge. Varying the parameters of an ultrasonic field, it was possible to exert an influence on the processes of plasma glow in a cavitating liquid. The objective of the present work was to analyze the features of sonoplasma discharge (volt-ampere electric characteristics and glowing) and possible chemical conversions that can occur under its excitation in water and liquid hydrocarbons. The specific feature of arc discharge in liquid media is the localization of plasma region near the electrode ends and “falling” form of volt-ampere characteristic. Keywords: Plasma, ultrasound, cavitation. E-mail: nbulychev@mail.ru