Observation of the transition from a Townsend discharge to a glow discharge in helium at atmospheric pressure

Journal Article · Mon Nov 26 04:00:00 EST 2007 · Applied Physics Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2819073· OSTI ID:21016181

Haiyun, Luo; Zhuo, Liang; Bo, Lv; Xinxin, Wang; Zhicheng, Guan; Liming, Wang ^[1]

---

1. Department of Electrical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084 (China)

Dielectric barrier discharge in helium at atmospheric pressure was studied by taking fast images of the discharge during one current pulse using an intensified charge couple device. It was observed that there appears a weakly luminous layer close to the anode at the very beginning of the discharge, then the luminous area gradually expands into the entire gap as the anode layer moves toward the cathode, and finally a highly luminous layer forms close to the cathode at the time around the maximum of the current pulse. The evolution of the discharge pattern indicates a transition from Townsend discharge to glow discharge.

• OSTI ID: 21016181
• Journal Information: Applied Physics Letters, Journal Name: Applied Physics Letters Journal Issue: 22 Vol. 91; ISSN APPLAB; ISSN 0003-6951
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ANODES
ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE
CATHODES
DIELECTRIC MATERIALS
GLOW DISCHARGES
HELIUM
LAYERS
PULSES
TOWNSEND DISCHARGE