Comparing investigation of pattern formation in glow and streamer DBD

Abstract

In this paper, we investigate the behaviors of patterns in dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) in glow and streamer regimes under different operating conditions (driving frequency and voltage) and external electric/magnetic field to explore the similarity and difference of pattern formation. It is found that patterns in both glow and streamer DBDs can be homogenized by decreasing the driving frequency to a low level. But filamentary streamers can still appear at low frequency when the voltage is much higher. With an additional lateral electric field, patterns in both regimes can be homogenized. However, an axial magnetic field makes the glow DBD homogeneous, while the streamer DBD decreases in filamentary size. In both regimes, dynamics and distribution of the space charges, rather than the surface charges, play the predominant role in the formation of DBD patterns. But the surface charges may also play an important role in pattern formation, especially in streamer DBD.