The structure and the spatio-temporal development of the DBDs were recorded in the UV and visible spectral range by a fast ICCD camera (Andor iStar DH734-18U-A3) through a quartz glass window. The spatial resolution was about 2 µm, while the maximal temporal resolution was 2 ns.

A streak-camera system (Hamamatsu C5680-21C) recorded the spatio-temporal development of the DBDs with about 2 µm spatial and about 20 ps temporal resolution. The high spatial resolution was enabled by a long-distance microscope (Questar QM100).

Electrical measurements were performed with current and voltage probes and recorded with an oscilloscope (Tektronix DPO 7254C). The high frequency current transformer (MagneLab CT-F2.5 BNC) provided a high sensitivity (2.5 V/A) with a rise time of 0.7 ns and a bandwidth range between 1.2 kHz and 500 MHz. The voltage probe (Tektronix P6015A) had a bandwidth of 75 MHz.

A time-dependent, spatially one-dimensional fluid-Poisson model was used to model the discharge behaviour. The Poisson equation as well as several balance equations were self-consistently solved. While the Poisson equation delivered the potential and the axial electric field, the particle densities and the energy density of the electrons were calculated by the balance equations. The fluxes of heavy particles were determined in the common drift-diffusion approximation. For the particle and energy flux of the electrons, an improved drift-diffusion approximation was used. The accumulation of surface charges at the dielectric surfaces was accounted for by the addition of charged particle fluxes. The reaction kinetics scheme included about 50 heavy particle species and more than 520 reactions. The secondary emission of electrons from the dielectric surfaces by N2(A) impact was considered with a secondary electron emission coefficient of 0.2. The partial reflection and emission of particles was used as boundary condition at the dielectrics with a secondary electron emission coefficient for ion-induced electron emission of 0.02. A quasi-neutral state with an electron density of 10^3 cm^{-3} was used as initial condition.