Fluid modeling on the filament interaction and pattern evolution in glow DBD

In this paper, we report on the investigation on filament interaction and pattern evolution in glow DBD regime by using a fluid model. The aim is to find the leading mechanism controlling the filamentary dynamic behaviors. Space-charge and voltage (or surface-charge) fluctuations are introduced into the discharge space to trigger initial non-uniformity of glow DBDs. Filamentary dynamic behaviors of generation and annihilation, merging and splitting, and attraction and repulsion are observed in interaction and evolution process under both kinds of fluctuations. It is found that, localized lateral electric field and its induced electron-focusing effect (EFE) should be the controlling mechanism, which is significantly influenced by discharge intensity, filament diameter and distance. If neighboring discharge channels connect or partially overlap with each other, they will attract and merge under the combined effect of lateral bi-diffusion and EFE. The fluid model and a dynamic model based on voltage transfer character are compared from basic physics and reach good unification.