Erlangen 2026 – scientific programme

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P: Fachverband Plasmaphysik

P 16: Poster Session Plasma Physics

P 16.54: Poster

Thursday, March 19, 2026, 13:45–15:45, Redoutensaal

Effects of electrode geometry and circuit on electric breakdown in atmospheric-pressure argon — Aleksandar Jovanović, •Margarita Baeva, and Markus M. Becker — Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), Greifswald, Germany

Electrical breakdown and subsequent re-breakdown are pivotal phenomena for the performance of switching and protective devices. This contribution presents a detailed modelling study of the electrical breakdown in argon at atmospheric pressure under direct current (DC) voltage in pin-plane geometry. A time-dependent and spatially two-dimensional fluid-Poisson model is employed to capture the spatio-temporal evolution of the discharge. An external electrical circuit involves the DC power supply, a series resistor, and an external capacitor. A parametric study of the influence of the resistance, capacitance and electrode shapes reveals distinct operation regimes, ranging from a low-current corona discharge to a high-current transient spark. The observed mode transitions are caused by the interplay of the circuit components and the discharge configuration. In all regimes, the gas and electrode temperatures differ considerably. Maximum temperature is localised in the cathode sheath, where the electric field is strongest and affects the cathode heating. The results reveal the coupling between geometry, electrical circuit and discharge, providing insights for optimisation of high-frequency switching and ignition devices.

The study was supported by the DAAD in the framework of Projekt-ID 57703239.

Keywords: electric discharge; modelling; argon