Eur. Phys. J. D 25, 157-160 (2003)
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjd/e2003-00240-4

Experimental pressure dependence of positive corona discharge in N₂

Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Dipartimento di Fisica “G. Occhialini”, P.zza della Scienza 3, 20126 Milano, Italy

Corresponding author: ^a roberto.benocci@mib.infn.it

Received: 5 February 2003
Published online: 30 July 2003

Abstract

This paper presents the experimental pressure dependence, in the range  Pa, of the characteristic of a N₂ positive corona discharge. The pressure raise is related to the gas flow increase into the chamber where the corona is ignited. Experimental measurements confirm Townsend's  characteristic. For a fixed potential difference between the electrodes, corona currents decrease as the gas flow increases (pressure increase): this has been ascribed to a lower ionization rate close to the stressed electrode and a lower charge mobility in the drift region. Both these processes result in a lower current generated by the discharge.