Uniform propagation of positive ionization waves over liquid water under high voltage rise rates
Abstract
The uniform propagation of a positive polarity surface ionization wave is achieved over liquid water, at atmospheric pressure, using nanosecond pulses with high voltage rise rates (+15 kV ns−1). The ring-shaped discharge propagation occurs over cm-sized surfaces and for a wide range of water conductivities (5–900 µS cm−1), without any branching during the discharge propagation. To our knowledge, this is the first experimental evidence of a ringed-shape ionization wave, without any branching, over a cathode water surface. They are generated in a pin-to-water configuration with a sub-millimetre gap between the pin and the water surface. Using two pulse generators, the influence of voltage rise rate on the discharge propagation dynamics is highlighted. Fast imaging and electrical diagnostics are performed under moderate (+2 kV ns−1) and high (+15 kV ns−1) voltage rise rates. In the former case, the discharge develops in three stages already reported in the literature: 1/ discharge inception in the pin-water gap, 2/ propagation of a circular ionization wave over the water surface and 3/ splitting of the ionization wave front into multiple surface streamers. In the latter case, in contrast, the circular ionization wave does not branch and the discharge continues to propagate as a uniform ring until the voltage drops. This uniform propagation is preserved over a large range of water conductivities (5–900 µS cm−1). However, the conductivity slightly influences the propagation length, speed, and energy deposition. The current findings demonstrate that the use of high-voltage nanosecond pulses with sharp rise rates prevents the development of instabilities in large-scale positive polarity discharges.
Related
- MOTION, a liquid xenon time projection chamber platform for high voltage technologies in dark matter detectors
- Intercomponent vortex interaction and dynamics in a uniform Bose quantum liquid
- Additional ionization during nuclear β± decay in atomic systems
- The use of coherent states in the excitation and ionization of atoms by a short symmetric pulse
- Migdal Ionization as a Probe of Light Dark Matter from Nuclear Transition
BibTeX
@article{brisset2026uniform,
title = {{Uniform propagation of positive ionization waves over liquid water under high voltage rise rates}},
author = {Alexandra Brisset and Thibault Darny and Kristaq Gazeli and Pascal Jeanney and Gabi Daniel Stancu and Pierre Tardiveau and a Vega Gonzalez},
journal = {Plasma Sources Science and Technology},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.1088/1361-6595/ae8f73},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05314866v2},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Uniform propagation of positive ionization waves over liquid water under high voltage rise rates
AU - Alexandra Brisset
AU - Thibault Darny
AU - Kristaq Gazeli
AU - Pascal Jeanney
AU - Gabi Daniel Stancu
AU - Pierre Tardiveau
AU - a Vega Gonzalez
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/07
JO - Plasma Sources Science and Technology
DO - 10.1088/1361-6595/ae8f73
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05314866v2
AB - The uniform propagation of a positive polarity surface ionization wave is achieved over liquid water, at atmospheric pressure, using nanosecond pulses with high voltage rise rates (+15 kV ns−1). The ring-shaped discharge propagation occurs over cm-sized surfaces and for a wide range of water conductivities (5–900 µS cm−1), without any branching during the discharge propagation. To our knowledge, this is the first experimental evidence of a ringed-shape ionization wave, without any branching, over a cathode water surface. They are generated in a pin-to-water configuration with a sub-millimetre gap between the pin and the water surface. Using two pulse generators, the influence of voltage rise rate on the discharge propagation dynamics is highlighted. Fast imaging and electrical diagnostics are performed under moderate (+2 kV ns−1) and high (+15 kV ns−1) voltage rise rates. In the former case, the discharge develops in three stages already reported in the literature: 1/ discharge inception in the pin-water gap, 2/ propagation of a circular ionization wave over the water surface and 3/ splitting of the ionization wave front into multiple surface streamers. In the latter case, in contrast, the circular ionization wave does not branch and the discharge continues to propagate as a uniform ring until the voltage drops. This uniform propagation is preserved over a large range of water conductivities (5–900 µS cm−1). However, the conductivity slightly influences the propagation length, speed, and energy deposition. The current findings demonstrate that the use of high-voltage nanosecond pulses with sharp rise rates prevents the development of instabilities in large-scale positive polarity discharges.
SN - 0963-0252
SN - 1361-6595
ER -