Spectroscopic study of a positive streamer in a point-to-plane discharge in air: evaluation of the electric field distribution

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Abstract
A spectroscopic diagnostic of the streamer point-to-plane discharge based on the spectrum emitted by the excited molecules and ions of N2 was used to obtain the spatial electronic temperature distribution in the streamer head. The assumption of a Townsend electrical equilibrium allows the spatial distribution of the local and space-charge fields to be obtained. The electronic temperature presents a maximum of about 9 eV at a distance 2 mm from the point electrode, while the value of the reduced electric field at the same position is about 280 V cm-1 Torr-1. The evaluated distribution of the electric field and the geometric field distribution were used to obtain the space-charge field distribution.