Efficiency of generation of chemically active species by pulsed corona discharges

G-values for the production of chemically active species by pulsed corona discharges are estimated within the framework of analytical streamer theory. Estimates for the production of oxygen and nitrogen atoms in the heads of propagating streamers are compared with recent experimental results obtained with the use of very short current pulses of duration of several nanoseconds. Production of oxygen and nitrogen atoms for long current pulses, of duration of several hundred nanoseconds, at a stage after bridging the discharge gap by a streamer is also considered. It is shown that, while oxygen atoms are produced during the discharge, generation of nitrogen atoms takes place mainly after the discharge, in collisions between vibrationally excited nitrogen molecules.