A general model for the simulation of electrical discharges

A numerical model for the simulation of charged particle interaction with electromagnetic fields in general configurations, including particle generation and loss mechanisms, has been developed. The basis of the model is the transmission-line modelling (TLM) method which is well established in EM field simulation. In TLM electric and magnetic fields are described in terms of voltage and current pulses on a matrix of transmission lines scanning the problem space. Charged particles can be placed anywhere in this matrix by momentarily connecting current sources along the path of particle motion. Space charge effects are thus included at all stages in the EM simulation. Particle dynamics are governed by the total field acting on each particle. The model operates in the time domain hence transients and nonlinearities can be efficiently studied