Atmospheric pressure glow discharge initiation from a single electron avalanche

Atmospheric pressure glow (APG) discharges are attractive for many applications due to their transversely homogeneous plasma properties. The discharge initiation mechanism for the APG is so far not well understood. Based on a two-dimensional fluid model the discharge initiation process is studied starting from a single initial electron avalanche. Images of the APG development at different phases during the discharge initiation are presented.