LAUSR

We study the origin of filamentary patterns in a sinusoidally driven surface barrier discharge at high over-voltage in atmospheric pressure air. Using a time-correlated single-photon counting based optical emission spectroscopy, we reveal ultrafast processes within generated discharges in both polarities of the applied voltage. For negative polarity, we observe initiation of complex streamer cascade which emerges far from the bare cathode. This event is responsible for long filamentary structure detected by an intensified CCD camera and transfers an exceptionally large electrical charge. It constitutes another, previously unknown, mechanism contributing to the charge-transfer equilibrium in studied periodical discharge. The revealed process leads to the formation of an intense cathode spot, a critical condition for plasma-transition into a highly ionised state.