Time-resolved electric field measurements in 1-5 atm nanosecond surface dielectric discharge. Ignition of combustible mixtures by surface discharge

Nanosecond discharge was initiated by negative or positive polarity pulses 10-15 kV in amplitude in a cable, 25-30 ns FWHM, 3-5 ns rise time, in the regime of a single shot or 3 Hz repetitive frequency. Discharge parameters, namely spatial uniformity of the discharge and time- and space-resolved electric field were measured in N₂:O₂=4:1 mixture. Possibility to ignite the combustible mixture with the help of a surface nanosecond dielectric barrier discharge (SDBD) has been demonstrated on the example of a stoichiometric C₂H₆:O₂ mixture at ambient initial temperature and at 1 atm pressure. Flame propa- gation and ignited volume as a function of time were compared experimentally for the two discharge geometries, for SDBD and pin-to-pin configurations at the same shape and amplitude of the incident pulse.