Active modulation mechanisms of plasma-based segmented diverter strips on surface discharge and impulse attachment behaviors

Active lightning protection using plasma on segmented diverter strips (SDS) addresses the stochastic limitations of conventional passive systems. This study investigates the micro-discharge mechanisms and active guidance efficacy of airborne SDS by establishing a variable-pressure DC characterization platform and a dual-source impulse injection system. Utilizing electrical parameters and high-speed optical diagnostic, we demonstrate that the multi-gap array exhibits a repetitive transient spark mode governed by a cascaded breakdown mechanism, where the static breakdown voltage displays non-linear saturation as the gap number increases. In the pulse coupling phase, the artificial plasma channel established via DC pre-ionization facilitates localized electric field modulation and reduces streamer propagation barriers through the synergistic effect of electrostatic superposition and the plasma memory effect. Continuous long-gap tests further confirm that the attachment probability of the target diverter strip is effectively enhanced by increasing the pre-ionization proportion. These findings clarify the microscopic physical evolution of active plasma on dielectric substrates, providing a theoretical and experimental foundation for the engineering of airborne active lightning protection technology.