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 language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1518-1528 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Physics of Plasmas |
Volume | 8 |
Issue number | 5 I |
DOIs | |
State | Published - May 2001 |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Condensed Matter Physics