Hexagonal and honeycomb structures in Dielectric Barrier Discharges

Benoît Bernecker (1) , Thierry Callegari (2) , Stéphane Blanco (2) , Richard A Fournier (2) , Jean-Pierre Boeuf (2)

1 LAPLACE - LAboratoire PLasma et Conversion d'Energie
2 LAPLACE-GREPHE - Groupe de Recherche Energétique, Plasmas et Hors Equilibre

We present an experimental study of pattern formation in a Dielectric Barrier Discharge in Neon at 100 torr and 1 mm gap. An intensified CCD camera is used to analyze the time evolution of the patterns during one cycle of the voltage waveform. The formation of a hexagonal pattern of filaments in a transient, glow-like regime is observed, followed by a honeycomb structure that corresponds to a Townsend discharge occurring outside the regions delimited by the previous filaments. A 2D fluid model can qualitatively reproduce these features and is used to help interpreting the experimental results.

Mots clés: Physical Sciences

Domaines: Physique [physics]

Benoît Bernecker, Thierry Callegari, Stéphane Blanco, Richard A Fournier, Jean-Pierre Boeuf. Hexagonal and honeycomb structures in Dielectric Barrier Discharges. European Physical Journal: Applied Physics, 2009, 47 (2), pp.1-4. ⟨10.1051/epjap/2009082⟩. ⟨hal-00480174⟩