Streamer propagation in oxygen between spherical electrodes: a numerical simulation with a particle method

Abstract

The propagation of a negative streamer between two spherical electrodes in low pressure oxygen is simulated by means of a particle-mesh method. In the bulk of the gas, ionization, electron attachment and recombination of ions have been considered. At the cathode, secondary electrons are released by impact of positive ions and photons. The electric field and the particle densities have been computed along the line joining the centers of the spheres. The effect of increasing pressure on the propagation of the streamer has been investigated.