Physical mechanisms of self-organization and formation of current patterns in gas discharges of the Townsend and glow types

Journal Article · Tue Oct 15 04:00:00 EDT 2013 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4823460· OSTI ID:22218482

Raizer, Yu. P.; Mokrov, M. S. ^[1]

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1. Institute for Problems in Mechanics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119526 (Russian Federation)

The paper discusses current filamentation and formation of current structures (in particular, hexagonal current patterns) in discharges of the Townsend and glow types. The aim of the paper, which is in part a review, is to reveal basic reasons for formation of current patterns in different cases, namely, in dielectric barrier discharge, discharge with semiconductor cathode, and micro-discharge between metallic electrodes. Pursuing this goal, we give a very brief review of observations and discuss only those theoretical, computational, and experimental papers that shed light on the physical mechanisms involved. The mechanisms are under weak currents—the thermal expansion of the gas as a result of Joule heating; under enhanced currents—the electric field and ionization rate redistribution induced by space charge. Both mechanisms lead to instability of the homogeneous discharges. In addition, we present new results of numerical simulations of observed short-living current filaments which are chaotic in space and time.

• OSTI ID: 22218482
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 10 Vol. 20; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
CATHODES
CHAOS THEORY
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
DIELECTRIC MATERIALS
ELECTRIC FIELDS
GLOW DISCHARGES
JOULE HEATING
NUMERICAL ANALYSIS
PLASMA
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA SIMULATION
SPACE CHARGE
THERMAL EXPANSION
TOWNSEND DISCHARGE
VISIBLE RADIATION