Abstract: The effects of electrode curvature on nonlinear behaviors of coaxial dielectric barrier discharge at atmospheric pressure have been investigated numerically by using a self-consistent 1D fluid model. It is demonstrated that the discharge exhibits different nonlinear behaviors for different electrode curvature. A traditional single-period discharge keeps its stability in a narrow range of electrode curvature. On the contrary, it will transit into a double-period discharge through period-doubling bifurcation. Meanwhile, the transition time is inversely proportional to the deviation level from the bifurcation point. The memory effect of space charge created in the previous discharge is responsible for this transition. As the electrode radius increases, the discharge first transits into a chaotic state through a series of period-doubling bifurcations, and then into another single-period discharge mode with opposite symmetry.

Key words: coaxial dielectric barrier discharge, nonlinear behaviors, glow discharge, electrode curvature