Multiple current peaks and spatial characteristics of atmospheric helium dielectric barrier discharges with repetitive unipolar narrow pulse excitation

Atmospheric dielectric barrier discharges driven by repetitive unipolar narrow pulse excitation are investigated numerically by using one-dimensional fluid models. The one-dimensional simulation focuses on the effects of applied voltage amplitude, pulse repetition frequency, gap width and γ coefficient on the multiple-current-pulse (MCP) discharge. The results indicate that the MCP behavior will lead to the stratification of electron density distribution in axial direction. Traditional MCP manipulating methods, such as reducing the applied voltage amplitude, increasing the applied voltage frequency, adjusting the gap width, cannot regulate MCPs exhibiting in this work. Further analyses reveal that the increasing electric field of the cathode fall region is the basis for the emergence of MCP behavior.