Generalization of the Townsend current-voltage characteristics of a corona discharge

The statistical treatment of the current-voltage characteristics of a corona discharge in gases and the generalization of them on the basis of the theory of similarity is considered. The dependence of the corona discharge current on the applied voltage is assumed to be two-parametric of the Townsend type. The parameters of the current-voltage characteristics are found using the least squares method on the basis of experimental data. The calculated current-voltage characteristics are reduced to a dimensionless form and are generalized in the form of the equation of the first quadrant bisector. The criteria and conditions of similarity of corona discharges are found. By the example of a positive corona discharge in helium at different pressures, there is generalized a number of experimental current-voltage characteristics using the proposed method. © 2014, Allerton Press, Inc.