Cylindrical Streamers Formed in Air and Nitrogen at Low Pressures

The results of experimental studies of analogs of columnar red sprites are presented. As is known, the development of sprites is due to the formation of cylindrical streamers at an altitude of 50–100 km from sea level. The velocities of a plasma diffuse jet (PDJ) obtained in a laboratory, which is an analog of a sprite, were measured, and its emission spectra were recorded. Estimates are made of the magnitude of the reduced electric field strength in the PDJ at various distances from the electrodes initiating the discharge. It has been established that the shape and color of the PDJ, which are also cylindrical streamers, at air pressures of 0.2–1.5 Torr corresponds to the color and shape of columnar red sprites. It is shown that the change in the color of diffuse plasma jets is associated with an increase in the reduced electric field strength.