Ionization turbulence

The development of ionisation turbulence in the positive column of a glow discharge is simulated by the numerical treatment of a nonlinear ionization wave equation. The calculated distributions of electron density, ionization frequency and temperature show three characteristic phases of a development turbulence. In the first phase the unstable growth of low amplitude fluctuations represents a linear phenomenon. In the second phase non-linearities appear, which in the third phase lead to saturation. The fluctuations in the third phase are represented by a random series of colliding shock-like striations. The turbulence in this phase is statistically stationary and homogeneous and can be characterized by the correlation function of electron concentration. The calculated correlation function reproduces all the essential features of ionization turbulence observed previously in experimental investigations.