Modeling of electric discharge in air by particle method

O. S. Kosarev


Abstract: A numerical algorithm implementing a mathematical model of an electric discharge between electrodes in an air environment is considered. The particle method is applied to numerically solve equations for the concentration of charged particles. Problems associated with the rigidity of the main system of equations and the choice of the integration step are identified. An algorithm is proposed that allows eliminating uncontrolled growth of concentration during avalanche ionization of air. An interpolation function is selected that provides smoothing of the concentration distribution on the difference grid. The problem of modeling the conditions for the emergence of a discharge channel is considered. The results obtained confirm the need to take into account electron drift and the validity of the choice of the interpolation function.

Keywords: electron, ion, drift, particle method, electric field.