Particle-in-cell simulations on the initial phase of a single gap gas discharge

Based on the models of the explosive electron emission and the neutral gas ionization, the authors have simulated the initial phase of a single gap gas discharge by using the self-consistent, 2-1/2 dimensional particle-in-cell WMGIC2DT Code. The profiles of space and phase space, and the statistic histograms of velocity for electrons and protons in the gap, as well as the total charge density along the symmetrical axis direction are presented at a hydrogen pressure of 1.33×10^-2 Pa and an applied voltage of 10 kV, respectively. The discharge mechanism is also discussed in this paper.