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Title: Simulation of subnanosecond streamers in atmospheric-pressure air: Effects of polarity of applied voltage pulse

Journal Article · · Physics of Plasmas
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4961925· OSTI ID:22599881
;  [1]
  1. Joint Institute for High Temperatures, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 125412 (Russian Federation)

Results of simulation of subnanosecond streamer propagation in corona gap configuration, obtained in the framework of 2D fluid model, are presented. Effects related with the polarity of a voltage pulse applied to the stressed electrode are discussed. It is argued that these effects (dependence of the discharge current and propagation velocity on the polarity of applied voltage) observed in experiments can be attributed to the difference in initial (preceding the streamer formation) distributions of charged species inside the gap. This difference can be caused by preionization (at negative polarity) of the gas inside the discharge gap by runaway electrons. Calculated streamers have large widths (up to 1 cm) and move with velocities in the range of 10{sup 9}–10{sup 10 }cm s{sup −1}, similar to experimental data.

OSTI ID:
22599881
Journal Information:
Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 23, Issue 8; Other Information: (c) 2016 Author(s); Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1070-664X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English