2-DIMENSIONAL MODELING OF POSITIVE STREAMER DYNAMICS IN NONUNIFORM ELECTRIC-FIELDS IN AIR

The results of two-dimensional (2D) numerical simulation of single pos itive streamer development in atmospheric air in sphere-plane electrod e configuration are presented. Correlation of streamer parameters with sphere radius R(sph) and applied voltage U is revealed. The values of the electric field at the streamer head E(max) and in the channel E(c ) are shown to be almost independent of R(sph) and U and equal to 150- 180 and 5-8 kV cm(-1) correspondingly. Streamer velocity and radial di mensions linearly increase with U, the coefficient in these linear rel ations being independent of R(sph). Comparison of the results obtained by 2D modelling and in the frame of the commonly used 1D (or quasi-2D ) models is made.