Experimental analysis and modelling of positive streamer in air: towards an estimation of O and N radical production

Abstract

This paper is mainly devoted to the comparison between the calculation and experimental results of primary and secondary streamer development in a point-to-plane positive corona discharge in dry air at atmospheric pressure. The qualitative agreement between experimental and calculation results based on the hydrodynamics approximation shows that the O radical is mainly produced in the secondary streamer which is in good agreement with the recent literature measurements using TALIF diagnostics. However, the O radical production yield (in terms of radicals produced per energy injected) is more efficient in the primary streamer than in the secondary one. The main positive corona discharge characteristics are revisited using fast electrical and optical ICCD and streak camera measurements. The calculation shows two streamer radii of, respectively, 10 µm (associated with the radial extension of a high electron density region) and 200 µm (corresponding to the extension of the radial space charge electric field).