Measurement of spatio-temporal dynamics of the square superlattice pattern in dielectric barrier discharge by using photoelectric method

Abstract

A dielectric barrier discharge system with two liquid electrodes and a photoelectric detection system are specially designed to study the spatiotemporal dynamics of square superlattice pattern. Two different types of square superlattice patterns are observed for the first time. They are both composed of the square arranged large and small spots (filaments), while one is without the glow background (type I), and the other one has (type II). The photoelectric measurements indicate that they have the same spatial-temporal behaviors, which are an interleaving of two transient square sublattices - the small-spot square sublattice (S) and the large-spot square sublattice (L). The emerging sequence of the two sublattices in a one cycle of the applied voltage is S-L-L-S-L-L, which is harmonic with the forcing frequency. The dynamic of the glow background of the type II square superlattice pattern is also studied. It is found that the glow background discharge three times in each half cycle of the applied voltage, going with the emergence of each sublattice.