Breakdown and Discharge Characteristics of High Repetition Frequency Nanosecond Pulsed Air Dielectric Barrier Discharge

Journal Article · Mon Jan 05 00:00:00 EST 2026 · High Voltage

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1049/hve2.70140· OSTI ID:3024907

None, Mahreen ^[1]; Xu, Dongxuan ^[1]; Shaw, Denis ^[2]; Bruggeman, Peter ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN (United States)
2. Advanced Energy Industries Inc., Fort Collins, CO (United States)

This study explores the breakdown characteristics and discharge modes in a parallel plate air dielectric barrier discharge system using repetitive nanosecond pulses, with pulse repetition frequencies (PRFs) from 0.1 to 100 kHz. It examines how pulse parameters—PRF, pulse number and gas pressure—affect the memory effect, leveraging current and voltage measurements, fast imaging and optical emission spectroscopy. The findings show that higher PRFs lead to a reduction in breakdown voltage well below the streamer breakdown threshold. We argue that this effect may be attributed to the cumulative buildup of metastable species and negative ions in the discharge gap which could sustain free electrons in‐between the voltage pulses. Despite observing increased energy deposition with higher PRFs, the impact on filament formation was minimal, highlighting a strong dependence of discharge morphology on the accumulation of plasma‐produced species. This research studies provides valuable insights for controlling discharge regimes in applications such as plasma‐assisted combustion, surface treatment and air treatment by clarifying the interactions between discharge mechanisms at different PRFs and pressures.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Fusion Energy Sciences (FES)
• Grant/Contract Number: SC0020232
• OSTI ID: 3024907
• Journal Information: High Voltage, Journal Name: High Voltage; ISSN 2096-9813; ISSN 2397-7264
• Publisher: Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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