Modeling of discharges generated by electron beams in dense gases: Fountain and thunderstorm regimes

S. O. Macheret, M. N. Shneider, R. B. Miles

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

45 Scopus citations

Abstract

In this paper we present an analysis of the predicted dynamics of plasmas generated in air and other gases by injecting beams of high-energy electrons. Two distinct regimes are found, differing in the way that the excess negative charge brought in by the ionizing electron beam is removed. In the first regime, called a fountain, the charge is removed by the back current of plasma electrons toward the injection foil. In the second, called a thunderstorm, a substantial cloud of negative charge accumulates, and the increased electric field near the cloud causes a streamer to strike between the cloud and a positive or grounded electrode, or between two clouds created by two different beams. A quantitative analysis, including electron beam propagation, electrodynamics, charge particle kinetics, and a simplified heat balance, is performed in a one-dimensional approximation.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1518-1528
Number of pages11
JournalPhysics of Plasmas
Volume8
Issue number5 I
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2001

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Condensed Matter Physics

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