Dynamics of Pin Electrode in Pin-to-Plate Discharge System

The following singular phenomena were observed on dynamics of a pin electrode in a pin-to-plate gas discharge system. (1) When the axial stiffness of the support of the pin electrode was low, vibration of the pin electrode perpendicular to the plate electrode was observed at the transition from the dark discharge to the corona discharge. (2) A spark-coupled-vibration took place for the softly supported pin electrode at the spark discharge. (3) An electrostatic ink jet phenomenon was observed, when an insulative capillary tube filled with ink was used for the pin electrode. (4) On the contrary, when the plate electrode made of metal was replaced to water, repulsive reaction due to the corona wind changed the shape of water level. (5) When the flexural rigidity of the pin electrode was extremely low, unstable vibration of the pin electrode, flutter, took place at the corona discharge due to the ionic wind. These phenomena are expected to be utilized for a new ozone free charger, a new ink jet system, and a driving system of a micromachine. In addition to these applications, the clarification of the dynamics is indispensable to improve the bead-carry-out in the two-component magnetic blush development subsystem of electrophotography.