The near-surface evolution of streamer discharges

Abstract

The near-surface development and properties of streamer discharges are considered. The identity of many other types of the uncompleted discharges (i.e. Surface, barrier, partial, RF ones etc.) was deduced. The filamentary positive streamer evolution in short air gaps at NTP was adopted as a reference model behaviour for all other phenomenological types; different phenomenological types of similar discharges combined in the framework of the uniform description. Some preliminary experiments on surface discharges with the periodical lattice structure of the potential electrode were conducted. The electric current pulse analysis has allowed an electric field and electron number density to be estimated. Their values have turned out to correlate well with those for filamentary streamer discharges. The experimental results for different phenomenological discharge types testify to evolution and basic parameters. The specific peculiarities of formation and development seem to be in transforming and reducing the general streamer dynamics caused by the concrete conditions. Finally, some associated practical applications have briefly been described.