Experimental pressure dependence of positive corona discharge in N $_\mathsf{2}$

Abstract.

This paper presents the experimental pressure dependence, in the range 1.01 x 10⁵-1.6 x 10⁵ Pa, of the I-V 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 I-V 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.