Eur. Phys. J. D (2016) 70: 37
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjd/e2016-60447-8

Regular Article

Structure formation of atmospheric pressure discharge^*

Institute of Laser Physics SB RAS, Prospect Lavrentyev, 13/3, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia

^a e-mail: arey100x@gmail.com

Received: 31 July 2015
Received in final form: 18 November 2015
Published online: 16 February 2016

Abstract

In this paper it is shown, by analyzing the results of experimental studies, that the outer boundary of the atmospheric pressure discharge pinch is determined by the condition of equality of plasma flows based on the thermal and electric field energy. In most cases, the number of charged particles coming from near-electrode zones is sufficient to compensate for losses in the discharge bulk. At large currents and enhanced heating, plasma is in the diffusion mode of losses, with recombination of charged particles at the pinch boundary.