Helical streamers guided by surface electromagnetic standing waves

Abstract

The streamer that driven by the specific pulse DC discharge parameters can stably form a threedimensional helical plasma channel in a long dielectric tube of the low-temperature plasma experiment, when there was neither external background magnetic field nor other factors that destroyed the poloidal symmetry of the tube. The formation mechanism and chirality of helical streamers are discussed here according to the surface electromagnetic standing wave theory. The shape of the helical streamers and the characteristics of helical branches are quantitatively analyzed to further expand the application of plasma and streamer theory in helix problem and chiral catalytic synthesis.

Dynamic propagation velocity of a positive streamer in a 3 m air gap under lightning impulse voltage

“…The generation and development of streamers is an important stage in the gap discharge process [1][2][3][4][5]. In-depth research into the microscopic mechanism of streamer discharge is helpful for improving the theory of gas discharge and reducing the thickness of the insulation during the design of power transmission and transformation equipment [6,7]. Velocity is an important parameter in the development of streamers, so scholars have analyzed it by different methods.…”