Barrier Discharge in Air: Influence of the Surface Charge on the Streamer Generating Voltage and Their Spatial Structure

The pulsed and sinusoidal barrier discharges in air have been studied. Plane-to-plane and pin‑to‑plane electrode configurations implementing volume and surface barrier discharges have been used. Experimental results on the influence of the electric charge deposited by streamers or an external source on the barrier surface, on the voltage at which streamers are generated and on their configuration are presented. In the case of the surface barrier discharge, results are presented for two situations: in the absence and in the presence of a strong magnetic field perpendicular to the surface streamer current. A “memory” effect is observed for positive streamers formed in adjacent half-periods of the sinusoidal voltage.