Analysis of propagation of ionization waves in nonuniform channels with noncircular cross sections

We investigate the propagation of ionization waves in nonuniform channels of a dc glow discharge. The dependences of the distances between adjacent strata on the cross-sectional area of the channel are measured using the method of image visualization and processing. It is found that the form of the dependences is determined to a considerable extent by the channel geometry: for a specific channel, the dependence can be increasing, decreasing, or nonmonotonic with a local peak.