Study on an atmospheric pressure glow discharge

Abstract

Experiments were performed on an atmospheric pressure glow discharge (APGD) in an air gap between two dielectric barrier electrodes. While it is possible to get an APGD in a 2 mm air gap, it is possible to get only a filament discharge in a 5 mm air gap. The development of an electron avalanche in such a gap was numerically simulated. It was found that the critical applied field for a 5 mm electron avalanche to transit to a streamer is equal to 35.07 kV cm−1. This calculated critical applied field is in good agreement with the experimental one. The experimental and theoretical results confirm that only a filament discharge, rather than a glow discharge, can be produced in an atmospheric pressure air gap that is not less than 5 mm if it is not possible to lower the breakdown field of air. A resistive barrier discharge (RBD) was theoretically analysed and the development of RBD was numerically simulated. If a kilohertz discharge is required, the parameters of the resistive layer should be in the range ρεr = (109–1011) Ω cm. APGD in a helium gap was realized using 50 Hz line power with a suitably fabricated resistive layer.