Townsend to glow discharge transition for a nanosecond pulse plasma in helium: space charge formation and resulting electric field dynamics

Simeni, Marien Simeni; Zheng, Yashuang; Barnat, Edward V.; Bruggeman, Peter J.

doi:10.1088/1361-6595/abf320

Townsend to glow discharge transition for a nanosecond pulse plasma in helium: space charge formation and resulting electric field dynamics

Journal Article · Fri May 07 00:00:00 EDT 2021 · Plasma Sources Science and Technology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6595/abf320· OSTI ID:1778060

^[1]; Zheng, Yashuang ^[2]; Barnat, Edward V. ^[3]; ^[1]

Univ. of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN (United States)
Univ. of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN (United States); South China Univ. of Technology, Guanzhou (China)
Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)

Stark polarization spectroscopy is used to investigate the temporal evolution of the electric field distribution in the cathode region of a nanosecond pulsed discharge in helium at 120 Torr. The measurements are performed on the He I transition at 492.19 nm, during the early stages of the discharge formation. The experimental results are compared with the predictions of a 1D fluid model. Time-resolved ICCD images show that the discharge develops as a diffuse, cathode-directed ionization wave with a Townsend-like feature before transitioning into a glow-like structure. Near anode instabilities characterized by filament formation were observed near the high voltage electrode. Within 30 ns, a reduction of the sheath thickness to about 250 μm is observed, coinciding with a gradual increase of the discharge current and proportional increase in electric field at the cathode. Additionally, the cathode electric field corresponding to this sheath with a thickness of 250 μm is about 40 kV cm^-1. A subsequent steep increase of the discharge current leads to a further reduction of the sheath width. The electric field evolution as obtained by the fluid model is in excellent agreement with the measurements and shows that an enhanced ionization near the cathode is causing the space charge formation responsible for the increase in electric field.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Fusion Energy Sciences (FES)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC04-94AL85000; NA0003525; SC0016053; SC0020232; SC0021376

OSTI ID:: 1778060

Report Number(s):: SAND--2021-4047J; 695284

Journal Information:: Plasma Sources Science and Technology, Journal Name: Plasma Sources Science and Technology Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 30; ISSN 0963-0252

Publisher:: IOP PublishingCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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