Modeling of Ionization Waves in Atmospheric-Pressure Argon in a Long Gap

Numerical simulation of the development of ionization waves—streamers—in pure argon at atmospheric pressure in a plane-parallel gap has been performed. The velocities and plasma parameters of cathode- and anode-directed ionization waves are obtained, and the streamer dynamics and structure are analyzed. The effects of variation of the background density of charged species are considered. The roles of various ionization mechanisms (the direct and stepwise ionization, and the Penning reaction) during streamer formation and propagation are revealed.