We recently have identified a simple mechanism of spontaneous streamer branching 1, 2. Here we discuss when this instability occurs, we present new numerical results, and we present a reduced model in which the instability can be studied analytically.
International Conference on Phenomena in Ionized Gases
Multiscale Dynamics

Ebert, U., Meulenbroek, B., Montijn, C.-S., Rocco, A., & Hundsdorfer, W. (2003). Spontaneous Branching of Anode-Directed Discharge Streamers:. In Proceedings of the 26th International Conference on Phenomena in Ionized Gases (ICPIG).