Breakdown of order in a self-organised barrier discharge

Abstract

Abstract. In this work, we investigate the transition of a hexagonal patterned self-organised barrier discharge into a stochastic distributed pattern during voltage reduction. The techniques of 2D Fourier transformation and, for the first time, the triple correlation function are used. Introducing measures for the angular and radial order it is possible to observe a supercritical bifurcation scenario for the decaying order. A chronological sequence of an angular and a radial breakdown of the pattern has been revealed. Possible limits of reproducibility and dependence on the frequency of the applied voltage are estimated.

Phase-resolved measurement of the spatial surface charge distribution in a laterally patterned barrier discharge

“…Often, the discharge spots move across the discharge area and come to a rest after few minutes [15]. Laterally patterned discharges have been observed by several other authors, e. g. [14,[16][17][18][19][20]. Mostly, they appear in helium or helium mixtures in the parameter range of pressure p from 75 to 1000 hPa, frequency f from 50 to 200 kHz, electrode distance d from 0.5 to 3 mm, voltage Û from 300 to 800 V.…”

“…However, in contrast to common glow-like barrier discharges, within some ten periods of the driving voltage the discharge becomes laterally patterned, i. e., split up into several discharge spots [13]. Through variation of the amplitude of the driving voltage the number of spots can be changed [8,14]. Often, the discharge spots move across the discharge area and come to a rest after few minutes [15].…”

Development of Barrier Discharges: Operation Modes and Structure Formation

“…It evaluates the positions of any triple of discharge spots and returns a probability distribution y(r, ϕ) of finding a second spot in a distance r and an angle ϕ with respect to an arbitrarily selected nearest neighbor, see figure 6 [33]. Qualitatively, the degradation of the hexagonal order starts with a blurring of order in angular direction.…”

Controlled structures in laterally patterned barrier discharges by illumination of the semiconductor electrode

“…The existence of laterally inhomogeneous modes in a dielectric barrier discharge has been known for several decades and has brought forth a multitude of studies on the emerging patterns [1][2][3][4]. In all these works, the patterns are completely selforganized; the experimental control is limited to the choice of global parameters and the lateral boundaries of the discharge area.…”