| Summary: | In metallized film capacitors, there exists an air gap of about 0.2 μ m between the films, with a pressure ranging generally from 1–30 atm. Because of the created potential difference between the two films, a microdischarge is formed in this gap. In this paper, we use an implicit particle-in-cell Monte Carlo collision simulation method to study the discharge properties in this direct-current microdischarge with 0.2 μ m gap in a range of different voltages and pressures. The discharge process is significantly different from a conventional high pressure discharge. Indeed, the high electric field due to the small gap sustains the discharge by field emission. At low applied voltage (∼15 V), only the electrons are generated by field emission, while both electrons and ions are generated as a stable glow discharge at medium applied voltage (∼50 V). At still higher applied voltage (∼100 V), the number of electrons and ions rapidly multiplies, the electric field reverses, and the discharge changes from a glow to an arc regime.
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