INITIAL EVOLUTION OF THE CATHODE DIRECTED STREAMER CHANNEL AFTER BRIDGING THE DISCHARGE GAP

To describe the beginning of the evolution of the cathode-directed streamer channel after it has bridged the discharge gap, a simplified model is considered, which considers ionization, heating, and heat removal through thermal conductivity. The spatial picture obtained from it and the estimates of the values of the process characteristics correspond to those observed in secondary streamers. Factors are indicated that practically make it impossible to stop the propagation of the secondary streamer in the part of the channel nearer to the cathode.