Influence of field emission on the propagation of cylindrical fast ionization wave in atmospheric-pressure nitrogen
- Department of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712 (United States)
The influence of field emission of electrons from surfaces on the fast ionization wave (FIW) propagation in high-voltage nanosecond pulse discharge in the atmospheric-pressure nitrogen is studied by a one-dimensional Particle-in-Cell Monte Carlo Collisions model. A strong influence of field emission on the FIW dynamics and plasma parameters is obtained. Namely, the accounting for the field emission makes possible the bridging of the cathode–anode gap by rather dense plasma (∼10{sup 13 }cm{sup −3}) in less than 1 ns. This is explained by the generation of runaway electrons from the field emitted electrons. These electrons are able to cross the entire gap pre-ionizing it and promoting the ionization wave propagation. We have found that the propagation of runaway electrons through the gap cannot be accompanied by the streamer propagation, because the runaway electrons align the plasma density gradients. In addition, we have obtained that the field enhancement factor allows controlling the speed of ionization wave propagation.
- OSTI ID:
- 22594614
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 119, Issue 15; Other Information: (c) 2016 Author(s); Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0021-8979
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Spatial profiles of electron and metastable atom densities in positive polarity fast ionization waves sustained in helium
Streamers at the Subnanosecond Breakdown of Argon and Nitrogen in Nonuniform Electric Field at Both Polarities
Related Subjects
GENERAL PHYSICS
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
ANODES
ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE
CATHODES
CYLINDRICAL CONFIGURATION
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
FIELD EMISSION
IONIZATION
MONTE CARLO METHOD
NITROGEN
ONE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
PLASMA DENSITY
PULSES
RUNAWAY ELECTRONS
SURFACES
VELOCITY
WAVE PROPAGATION