Patterns of Plasma Filaments Propagating on a Dielectric Surface

The special behavior of dielectric barrier discharges (DBDs) and surface DBDs (SDBDs) in argon at atmospheric pressure is presented. Images show complex discharge patterns due to the interaction of the microdischarges and the dielectric. The pictures presented in this paper correspond to only one current peak and exhibit the complexity which lies in a current peak in a barrier discharge. Discharge patterns in volume and SDBDs are compared for the positive and negative polarities of applied voltage. By impacting the dielectric surface, the streamer branches to form the famous Lichtenberg figures.