Influence of increased velocity on the statistical discharge characteristics of He and air barrier discharges

• Published in: Journal of physics. D, Applied physics Applied physics, 2010-01, Vol.43 (2), p.025207-025207 (11)
• Main Authors: Reichen, P, Sonnenfeld, A, Rudolf von Rohr, Ph
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Electric discharges; Exact sciences and technology; Other gas discharges; Physics; Physics of gases, plasmas and electric discharges; Physics of plasmas and electric discharges
• ISSN: 0022-3727; 1361-6463
• DOI: 10.1088/0022-3727/43/2/025207

A detailed study of a description method for microdischarges based on the statistical analysis of single discharge bursts is presented and applied for small electrode arrays. As such, the electrical properties derived from the collective behaviour of the current bursts for microdischarges in helium and synthetic air for different pressure levels and variable voltage gradients are elaborately discussed. Motivated by the possible prolongation of the displacement distance of active species and thus the improved development of an atmospheric afterglow in a low frequency discharge, the interaction between high-speed gas flows and microdischarges in small ducts has been approached presenting first results. Intentionally, gases with different discharge mechanisms known as streamer (synthetic air) and Townsend (helium) have been considered. Similar velocity dependences of the discharge behaviour could be observed in both gases. For helium, subsonic channel velocity is sufficient to distinctively alter the discharge characteristics whereas transonic flow is needed to alter those of synthetic air. Subsequently, a simple model is proposed to explain these findings for elevated velocities in a dielectric setup.