Intense electromagnetic pulse induced breakdown effects in high temperature dissociated nitrogen gas

A theoretical investigation on the intense electromagnetic pulse (EMP)induced breakdown process in high temperature nitrogen gas is given. The main character of high temperature gas isthat molecules in it dissociate in some degree, and this will affect the breakdown threshold of the EMP. Numerical calculations have revealed that: (1) The breakdown threshold of the EMP decreases as the gas temperature increases; (2) The degree for the decrease of breakdown threshold depends on the frequency of the electromagnetic wave.