Simulation of nonstationary phenomena in atmospheric-pressure glow discharge

• Published in: Plasma physics reports 2016-06, Vol.42 (6), p.592-600
• Main Authors: Korolev, Yu. D., Frants, O. B., Nekhoroshev, V. O., Suslov, A. I., Kas’yanov, V. S., Shemyakin, I. A., Bolotov, A. V.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY; AIR; ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE; Atomic; GLOW DISCHARGES; INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY; Low-Temperature Plasma; Molecular; MOLECULES; NITROGEN; NITROGEN OXIDES; Optical and Plasma Physics; OXYGEN; OXYGEN IONS; OZONE; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; PLASMA SIMULATION; POSITIVE COLUMN; WAVE FORMS
• ISSN: 1063-780X; 1562-6938
• DOI: 10.1134/S1063780X16060052

Nonstationary processes in atmospheric-pressure glow discharge manifest themselves in spontaneous transitions from the normal glow discharge into a spark. In the experiments, both so-called completed transitions in which a highly conductive constricted channel arises and incomplete transitions accompanied by the formation of a diffuse channel are observed. A model of the positive column of a discharge in air is elaborated that allows one to interpret specific features of the discharge both in the stationary stage and during its transition into a spark and makes it possible to calculate the characteristic oscillatory current waveforms for completed transitions into a spark and aperiodic ones for incomplete transitions. The calculated parameters of the positive column in the glow discharge mode agree well with experiment. Data on the densities of the most abundant species generated in the discharge (such as atomic oxygen, metastable nitrogen molecules, ozone, nitrogen oxides, and negative oxygen ions) are presented.