Theoretical predictions are given of the development of the current and the distributions of charge and electric field in negative corona, or Trichel current pulses [G. W. Trichel, Phys. Rev. 54, 1078 (1938)], in oxygen at a pressure of 6.67 kPa (50 Torr). For a 10-mm-diam negative sphere located 20 mm from a positive plane, the calculated current pulse has a rise time of 11 ns, a pulse width of 50 ns, and a peak amplitude of 13 mA. These results agree satisfactorily with experimental values. The predicted velocity of the cathode-directed light pulse also agrees well with observations. The theory is based on the accurate numerical solution of Poisson’s equation in conjunction with the continuity equations for electrons, positive ions, and negative ions. The effects of ionization, attachment, recombination, electron diffusion, and photoemission and ion secondary-electron emission from the cathode are all included. The initial steep rise of the current pulse is largely due to rapid ionization and electron motion in the high Laplacian field near the cathode. As the discharge develops, a dense plasma forms near the cathode, leading to strong space-charge distortion of the field. A prominent cathode fall region is formed immediately adjacent to the cathode, an almost zero field is formed within the plasma and the field is enhanced over the region to the anode. The current pulse is quenched because the low electric field in the plasma immobilizes the majority of the electrons which then undergo three-body attachment; furthermore, the cathode fall region becomes reduced to such a short distance that insignificant current is produced from this region. Because of the low mobility of the negative ions, the current remains low and the structure of the space-charge fields changes only slowly with time between pulses.

• Received 13 November 1984

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.32.1799