Ordering of the flame track in the ring mode of the Trichel pulse negative corona discharge

Abstract

The ring mode of the Trichel pulse negative corona discharge was studied in atmospheric air. The localization of the discharge flame track in the stable self-organized regular pattern of 3, 4, 5 and 6 – pointed star was found at the cathode surface. This phenomenon was observed at mean currents in the range 100-115 μA at the conditions of the experiment, when the modes with one or two rings are not stable. The conclusion was made that the ring mode of the discharge, which is caused by the symmetrical distribution of the volumetric charges in the conditions of the symmetrical electric field, may be unstable. This instability results in the spatial self-organization of these parameters and causes the organization of the discharge flame track at the cathode surface in the regular patterns.