Towards a fully kinetic 3D electromagnetic particle-in-cell model of streamer formation and dynamics in high-pressure electronegative gases

Journal Article · Thu Sep 15 04:00:00 EDT 2011 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3629989· OSTI ID:22043526

Rose, D V; Welch, D R; Clark, R E; Thoma, C; Zimmerman, W R; Bruner, N ^[1]; Rambo, P K; Atherton, B W ^[2]

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1. Voss Scientific, LLC, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87108 (United States)
2. Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185 (United States)

Streamer and leader formation in high pressure devices is dynamic process involving a broad range of physical phenomena. These include elastic and inelastic particle collisions in the gas, radiation generation, transport and absorption, and electrode interactions. Accurate modeling of these physical processes is essential for a number of applications, including high-current, laser-triggered gas switches. Towards this end, we present a new 3D implicit particle-in-cell simulation model of gas breakdown leading to streamer formation in electronegative gases. The model uses a Monte Carlo treatment for all particle interactions and includes discrete photon generation, transport, and absorption for ultra-violet and soft x-ray radiation. Central to the realization of this fully kinetic particle treatment is an algorithm that manages the total particle count by species while preserving the local momentum distribution functions and conserving charge [D. R. Welch, T. C. Genoni, R. E. Clark, and D. V. Rose, J. Comput. Phys. 227, 143 (2007)]. The simulation model is fully electromagnetic, making it capable of following, for example, the evolution of a gas switch from the point of laser-induced localized breakdown of the gas between electrodes through the successive stages of streamer propagation, initial electrode current connection, and high-current conduction channel evolution, where self-magnetic field effects are likely to be important. We describe the model details and underlying assumptions used and present sample results from 3D simulations of streamer formation and propagation in SF{sub 6}.

• OSTI ID: 22043526
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 9 Vol. 18; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
ABSORPTION
ALGORITHMS
BREAKDOWN
DISTRIBUTION FUNCTIONS
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
ELECTRONEGATIVITY
GASES
LASER RADIATION
LIGHT TRANSMISSION
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MONTE CARLO METHOD
PARTICLE INTERACTIONS
PLASMA PRESSURE
PLASMA SIMULATION
PLASMA SWITCHES
PRESSURE RANGE MEGA PA 10-100
SOFT X RADIATION
SULFUR FLUORIDES
X-RAY SOURCES