Numerical study of the self-pulsing of DC discharge: from corona to parallel-plate configurations

Abstract

We present here an investigation of self-pulsing phenomenon of negative corona and parallel-plate discharge in argon within one frame of a one-dimensional (1D) fluid model in cylinder-cylinder electrode geometry. Transition from corona to parallel-plate discharge is obtained by changing the inner and outer radii of the electrodes. The model reproduces well the self-pulsing waveform and provides the spatial-temporal distributions of charged particles and electric field during the pulse. The self-pulsing shows a common feature that occurs in various configurations not depending on specific electrode structure. The self-pulsing is the transition between low-current Townsend discharge and high-current normal glow discharge. Positive ions play an important role in the formation of the pulse.