About a positive discharge column structure in a transversal air flow. Part 1
Given article is devoted to examination of direct current discharge characteristics of in a transversal gas flow. Processes in an area of the positive discharge column have been investigated numerically and analytically. It is shown, that the traversal size of the positive column appears to be essentially smaller at the account of electron attachment with respect to its absence. Approximate expressions for velocities of discharge boundaries displacement over a neutral gas and their dependence on curvature radius of occupied by plasma area have been obtained. Conditions of ionization - overheating instability development and its impact on the discharge characteristics have been discussed. It is shown that there are two possible modes of discharge development with respect to initial conditions. They are: the uniform slow warm-up of all discharge section and a mode of ionization - overheating instability, accompanied with diminution of the discharge traversal section, decrease of electric field strength in the positive column and sharp growth of temperature. Features of transition from one mode to another are explored at the account of the discharge traversal section growth and drift of ions along the electric current.