“…The gas in the discharge volume underwent lateral pre-ionization with ultraviolet radiation from two incomplete surface corona discharges (Ernst and Boer 1978, Hasson and von Bergmann 1976, Ernst 1982) across a glass dielectric plate 3 mm thick. With the usual configuration of this pre-ionization system (figure 2(a)) (Ernst and Boer 1978, Reits 1980, Witteman 1987, up to a certain threshold voltage depending on the pressure and composition of the gas, a normal uniform corona is observed. As the voltage is further increased the regimen of surface sparking is reached (an inhomogeneous complete surface discharge is formed).…”