BIFURCATION-ANALYSIS OF THE CORONA DISCHARGE ON A NEGATIVE ELECTRODE

A bifurcation analysis of the cylindrically symmetric solution obtaine d in the framework of the steady-state model of the negative corona di scharge in air at atmospheric pressure has been carried out. No bifurc ations have been found, which indicates that current contraction proba bly does not occur in the considered model. It follows that the curren t-free stripes on the corona cathode surface, observed by previous aut hors in two- and three-dimensional computer simulation and in experime nt, are due to the specific discharge geometry rather than current con traction. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.