DC and pulsed glow discharges in atmospheric pressure air and nitrogen

This article illustrates a variety of direct current and pulsed glow discharges obtained either in ambient or preheated (2000 K) air or nitrogen at atmospheric pressure. The images presented show that stable and diffuse discharges, with electron densities as high as 10/sup 12/ cm/sup -3/, can be obtained at atmospheric pressure with no filamentation or constriction. Spectroscopic measurements confirm that these discharges are of the glow type.