The influence of electrode geometry and gas flow on corona-to-glow and glow-to-spark threshold currents in air

In negative corona discharges in ambient air different discharge modes can be observed. In this paper the discharge current regions corresponding to these modes are determined. The influence of anode geometry, anode resistivity, inter-electrode distance and gas flow on the threshold currents that mark the corona-to-glow and glow-to-spark transitions is investigated. The experimental data are backed up by an analytical treatment of ionization instability development within a local current spot on metallic and resistive anodes.