Is this project an undergraduate, graduate, or faculty project?
Undergraduate
Project Type
group
Campus
Daytona Beach
Authors' Class Standing
Seth Gerow, Junior Jared Nelson, Graduated, Jeremy Riousset, Faculty Mentor, Josef Dufek, Faculty at University of Oregon, Joshua Mendez, Faculty at Portland State University
Lead Presenter's Name
Seth Gerow
Lead Presenter's College
DB College of Arts and Sciences
Faculty Mentor Name
Jeremy Riousset
Abstract
Our work focuses on plasma discharges produced in various planetary atmospheres. This process can create luminescent emissions at low currents and low temperatures: glow and corona discharges. The parallel plate geometry used in Townsend’s theory lets us develop a theoretical formalism, with explicit solutions for the critical voltage effectively reproducing experimental Paschen curves. Here, we present a generalization of the classic parallel plate configurations to concentric spherical and coaxial cylindrical geometries in Earth, Mars, Titan, and Venus atmospheres. We show that glow coronæ form more easily in Mars’s low-pressure, CO2-rich atmosphere than in Earth’s high-pressure, N2-rich atmosphere. Additionally, we present breakdown criteria for Titan and Venus, two planets where discharge processes have been postulated. We further demonstrate that critical voltage minima occur at 0.5 cm⋅Torr for all three investigated geometries, suggesting easier initiation around millimeter-size particles in dust and water clouds. Townsend breakdown can transition to streamer and leader discharges with higher current densities and/or temperatures. Time permitting, we will introduce how our FRActal Model of Electrical Discharges (FraMED) can be readily adapted and tested to study extraterrestrial lightning and Transient Luminous Events.
Did this research project receive funding support (Spark, SURF, Research Abroad, Student Internal Grants, Collaborative, Climbing, or Ignite Grants) from the Office of Undergraduate Research?
Yes, Spark Grant
Recent Advances in Modeling of Electrical Discharges in Planetary Atmospheres
Our work focuses on plasma discharges produced in various planetary atmospheres. This process can create luminescent emissions at low currents and low temperatures: glow and corona discharges. The parallel plate geometry used in Townsend’s theory lets us develop a theoretical formalism, with explicit solutions for the critical voltage effectively reproducing experimental Paschen curves. Here, we present a generalization of the classic parallel plate configurations to concentric spherical and coaxial cylindrical geometries in Earth, Mars, Titan, and Venus atmospheres. We show that glow coronæ form more easily in Mars’s low-pressure, CO2-rich atmosphere than in Earth’s high-pressure, N2-rich atmosphere. Additionally, we present breakdown criteria for Titan and Venus, two planets where discharge processes have been postulated. We further demonstrate that critical voltage minima occur at 0.5 cm⋅Torr for all three investigated geometries, suggesting easier initiation around millimeter-size particles in dust and water clouds. Townsend breakdown can transition to streamer and leader discharges with higher current densities and/or temperatures. Time permitting, we will introduce how our FRActal Model of Electrical Discharges (FraMED) can be readily adapted and tested to study extraterrestrial lightning and Transient Luminous Events.