Influence of dielectric surface charge on the discharge behavior in a coaxial dielectric-barrier discharge

The discharge characteristics of a coaxial dielectric-barrier discharge are investigated by using a differential equation based on the Townsend discharge model. An analytical expression for the saturated voltage in the gap between the dielectric materials is,obtained in terms of the physical parameters of the dielectric-barrier coaxial cylinders, the rising rate of the externally applied voltage, and the gas pressure. The rising rate of the front edge of the alternating applied voltage, rather than its amplitude or frequency, is shown to play decisive role in the dielectric-barrier discharge. The influence of the dielectric surface charge on the dielectric-barrier discharge becomes appreciable at low pressure, where it accumulates an excessive dielectric surface charge, reducing the electric field in the gap between the dielectric materials and resulting in extinction of the electric discharge due to the low rising rate of the applied voltage.