The Oscillations of the Positive Glow Corona

Abstract
The paper treats experiments, computer simulations, and the physical explanation of the oscillatory behaviour of positive glow coronas at or below atmospheric density. Experiments show that most positive glows have ionization regions that oscillate with frequencies depending on the gas, geometry, and average discharge current. Our circuit simulating program CIRCSIM with the general gas discharge element GPCS1 reproduces quantitatively Beattie's sphere-to-plane coronas in air, and also our cylindrical coronas in air and in argon with additives. The oscillations demand a fast secondary ionization (feedback) mechanism, and are damped or inhibited by slower feedback processes like positive ion or metastable feedback, and detachment from negative ions. Linear damped oscillations are due to ionization region capacitance and equivalent inductance. Nonlinear self-sustained oscillations are formed by periodic quenching by the generated positive ions.