An analysis of the current in a point-to-plane corona discharge and the effect of a back-ionising layer on the plane

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Abstract
The increase in the current that flows in a negative point-to-plane corona discharge when a porous layer is present on the plane was studied by using a fast storage oscilloscope. It was found that the current increase is due primarily to an increase in the frequency of the Trichel pulses at the cathode, and less than 0.1% can be attributed to pulsed phenomena at the anode. It is proposed that the increase in Trichel pulse frequency is caused by neutralisation of the negative ion space charge by positive ions produced by discharges in the porous layer. These positive ions are not detected in the current measured in the external circuit because of their low mobility. Breakdown in the porous layer is thus a source of positive ions, which increase the corona current by modifying the Trichel pulse frequency and not by contributing directly to the measured current.

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