A one-dimensional self-consistent fluid numerical model was developed to study the ignition characteristics of a pulse-modulated (PM) radio-frequency (RF) glow discharge in atmospheric helium assisted by a sub-microsecond voltage excited pulsed discharge. The temporal evolution of discharge current density and electron density during PM RF discharge burst was investigated to demonstrate the discharge ignition characteristics with or without the pulsed discharge. Under the assistance of pulsed discharge, the electron density in RF discharge burst reaches the magnitude of 1.87×10 17 m −3 within 10 RF cycles, accompanied by the formation of sheath structure. It proposes that the pulsed discharge plays an important role in the ignition of PM RF discharge burst. Furthermore, the dynamics of PM RF glow discharge are demonstrated by the spatiotemporal evolution of the electron density with and without pulsed discharge. The spatial profiles of electron density, electron energy and electric field at specific time instants are given to explain the assistive role of the pulsed discharge on PM RF discharge ignition.

A two-dimensional numerical fluid model was developed to study the effects of initial discharge conditions on the discharge dynamics and characteristics of atmospheric cascade glow discharge including dielectric barrier pulsed discharge and radio frequency (RF) discharge burst. In the dielectric barrier pulsed discharge, the second discharge in the pulse voltage falling phase develops faster than the first discharge in the pulse voltage rising phase, which is demonstrated by the spatiotemporal evolution of discharge and can be attributed to the initial discharge conditions in terms of electron and ion density and their spatial distribution. On the other hand, in the pulse modulated RF discharge coupled with pulsed discharge, the initial conditions of RF discharge can be influenced by the pulsed discharge. The ignition dynamics of RF discharge is compared with and without the pulsed discharge in terms of plasma densities and electric field to show the role of residual plasma species in the initial discharge conditions. It proposes that the discharge ignition both in the pulsed discharge and the RF discharge is dependent on the density and spatial profile of plasma species in the initial discharge conditions, which helps ignite and achieve stable operation of atmospheric glow discharge.