Characterization of point-plane corona in air at radio frequency using a FE-FCT method

The development of corona under RF conditions in point-plane configuration has been investigated in this paper, using the recently developed finite-el ement flux-corrected transport (FE-FCT) method. The study was made in air f or a 1 cm gap with 50 mu m tip radius needle at 40 MHz and the effects of d ifferent parameters, such as the peak applied voltage (in the range 3-4.5 k V) on the coronal development and particularly on the current and light out put, are examined. Polarity and hysteresis effects are observed, as well as a plateau in the current waveform, which are confirmed by previously publi shed experimental results. Finally, a Fourier analysis on the steady-state current waveform is performed.