L Papageorgiou et al 2011 J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 44 045203 doi:10.1088/0022-3727/44/4/045203
L Papageorgiou1, A C Metaxas2 and G E Georghiou1
Show affiliationsA three-dimensional (3D) numerical model for the characterization of gas discharges in air at atmospheric pressure incorporating photoionization through the solution of the Helmholtz equation is presented. Initially, comparisons with a two-dimensional (2D) axi-symmetric model are performed in order to assess the validity of the model. Subsequently several discharge instabilities (plasma spots and low pressure inhomogeneities) are considered in order to study their effect on streamer branching and off-axis propagation. Depending on the magnitude and position of the plasma spot, deformations and off-axis propagation of the main discharge channel were obtained. No tendency for branching in small (of the order of 0.1 cm) overvolted discharge gaps was observed.
Issue 4 (2 February 2011)
Received 18 September 2010, in final form 20 November 2010
Published 6 January 2011
L Papageorgiou et al 2011 J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 44 045203
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