The structure of streamers in N2. II. Two-dimensional simulation

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Abstract
For pt.I see ibid., vol.27, p.2556-63 (1994) Using a fast method of space-charge-dominated plasma simulation, streamer propagation between parallel-plate electrodes in atmospheric pressure nitrogen is simulated. A fully two-dimensional algorithm in cylindrical coordinates is used. The structure of both cathode- and anode-directed streamers is discussed. Space-charge distribution in the streamer is presented. Whenever possible, comparison with experiments and previous two-dimensional calculations is made. It is shown that, when a streamer arrives at the cathode, an image charge produces field enhancement in the streamer channel in the middle of the gap. Growth of ionization in this region manifests itself as discharge 'constriction', which was observed in the experiments.