Displacement current during the formation of positive streamers in atmospheric pressure air with a highly inhomogeneous electric field

This paper presents experimental data on the dynamics of positive streamers formation in a highly inhomogeneous electric field under threshold for the breakdown of the gap conditions as well as at high voltage. The glow of the streamer was registered with a four-channel intensified charge-coupled device camera with simultaneous recording of voltage and current characteristics per pulse. It was shown that the streamer appearance is accompanied by a displacement current pulse induced by a redistribution of the electric field strength in the gap. We call this current the dynamic displacement current (DDC). The DDC value changes during the streamer propagation in the gap. It reaches the maximum values when the streamer starts and when it is close to bridge the gap. The DDC was also registered with a collector placed behind the grid plane electrode which is usually applied for the registration of runaway electrons when a negative streamer is formed. It was shown that the DDC allows to study the features of the streamer formation

Blue and green jets in laboratory discharges initiated by runaway electrons

Spectral and amplitude-temporal characteristics of plasma radiation of nanosecond pulse-periodic discharge in air, nitrogen and argon in pressure range of 30-760 Torr were investigated. Discharge gap geometry was a "point-to-plane". Voltage pulses of negative polarity (amplitude, FWHM and risetime was 13 kV, 10 ns and 4 ns, respectively) were applied to a pointed cathode made of different metals (stainless steel, aluminum and copper). Jets of different colour were observed near a cathode tip. They are formed due to explosive emission. Colour of jets depends on the cathode material. Intense lines of the atoms and ions of iron in the wavelength range of 200-600 nm, aluminum with λ = 394.4, 396.15 nm, including multiply charged ion Al VI with λ = 360.39 and 361.65 nm, copper with λ = 324.8, 327.3, 510.6, 515.3, 521.8, 522 nm were registered. The resonance energy transfer from metastable A3Π+u level of nitrogen molecule to 3d104p level of Cu I was found. As a result a luminescence duration of Cu I was about 1.5 μs at duration of discharge current of 1.5 ps. During constriction of the diffuse discharge the sputtering of material occurs in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the discharge gap

Features of streamer formation in a sharply non-uniform electric field

The streamer formation in a point-to-plane gap filled with atmospheric-pressure air has been experimentally studied using a streak camera and a four-channel intensified charge-coupled device camera with simultaneously recording waveforms of voltage and discharge current pulses. A large diameter streamer was observed at various amplitudes of nanosecond voltage pulses. The instantaneous streamer velocity was measured using the streak camera. It was found that the streamer has a high velocity at the initial stage of development, but it rapidly decreases. The minimum streamer velocity corresponds to the maximum diameter. The streamer velocity increases again by an order of magnitude when it approaches the opposite electrode. It was found that the streamer velocity correlates with the value of a displacement current induced by its propagation. At the initial stage of the streamer development during subnanosecond breakdown, the displacement current can reach several kiloamperes; this is comparable to the conduction current after the breakdown

ICCD-imaging of a plasma glow during the prebreakdown stage of nanosecond discharges at both polarities in nitrogen, air and argon

Dynamics of a plasma glow during the prebreakdown stage of a nanosecond discharge in the «cone-to-plane» gap with length of d = 3 mm was investigated with a HSFC PRO 12-bit four-channel ICCD camera. The gap was filled with nitrogen, air, argon. Gas pressure was ranged from 12,5 to 400 kPa. Voltage pulses of negative (U = 25 kV, τ0,5 = 3 ns, τ0,1–0,9 = 0,7 ns) and positive (U = 25 kV, τ0,5 = 10 ns, τ0,1–0,9 = 3 ns) polarities were applied across the gap. Images of the plasma glow at different stages of streamer formation are presented. It was established that a diffuse discharge is formed due to formation of a large streamer. It was found that plasma appears at a certain distance from the conical electrode at both polarities. These and other features of streamer formation are discussed

Influence of nanoparticles and metal vapors on the color of laboratory and atmospheric discharges

Currently, electrical discharges occurring at altitudes of tens to hundreds of kilometers from the Earth’s surface attract considerable attention from researchers from all over the world. A significant number of (nano)particles coming from outer space burn up at these altitudes. As a result, vapors of various substances, including metals, are formed at different altitudes. This paper deals with the influence of vapors and particles released from metal electrodes on the color and shape of pulse-periodic discharge in air, nitrogen, argon, and hydrogen. It presents the results of experimental studies. The discharge was implemented under an inhomogeneous electric field and was accompanied by the generation of runaway electrons and the formation of mini-jets. It was established that regardless of the voltage pulse polarity, the electrode material significantly affects the color of spherical- and cylindrical-shaped mini jets formed when bright spots appear on electrodes. Similar jets are observed when the discharge is transformed into a spark. It was shown that the color of the plasma of mini-jets is similar to that of atmospheric discharges (red sprites, blue jets, and ghosts) at altitudes of dozens of kilometers and differs from the color of plasma of pulsed diffuse discharges in air and nitrogen at the same pressure. It was revealed that to observe the red, blue and green mini-jets, it is necessary to use aluminum, iron, and copper electrodes, respectivel