RAPID COMMUNICATION Two-dimensional simulation of streamers using the FE-FCT algorithm

Abstract. The improved finite-element flux-corrected transport method (FE-FCT), developed by the authors, has been applied in its full two-dimensional form to the numerical solution of streamer development and propagation in air at atmospheric pressure. The numerical algorithm used employs the FE-FCT method for the solution of transport equations of charged species under the action of space-charge electric field, with the field obtained from the solution of Poisson’s equation in cylindrical co-ordinates. Results of two-dimensional simulations of cylindrically symmetric streamers in air between parallel plate electrodes are presented. The breakdown voltages predicted by the model for different gap lengths are in agreement with the experimental measurements, which demonstrates the validity of the model. Furthermore, the avalanche-to-streamer transition—as described in Raether H 1964 Electron avalanches and breakdown in gases (London: Butterworths)—and the formation of anode and cathode directed streamers are numerically observed. 1