Current waveform of space charge discharge occurred in a charged particle cloud

The discharge between a charged particle cloud with a size of 0.6 m diameter and 3m long and a ground sphere electrode with 100 mm diameter was caused to investigate the mechanism of initiation of the discharge and extension of discharge channel. While charged particles were ejecting, spark discharge with a number of streamers occurred repetitively at a definite interval depending on the distance of the grounded electrode from the charged cloud. The individual discharge lasted a few microseconds. Most of waveforms of discharge current have a short plateau at a rise time. It suggests that the discharge channel extends involving with cease of progress. The waveform was classified depending on the number of peaks. From the analysis of the waveform, the magnitude, duration time and charge quantity of discharge current was compared with the position of the grounded electrode. The feature of the current waveform shows the uniqueness of the discharge in space charge cloud.