Voltage application device and discharge device

A voltage application device electrically connected to a discharge electrode and an opposite electrode, the opposite electrode being disposed so as to face the discharge electrode via a gap, the voltage application device comprising:

• a voltage application circuit configured to apply a voltage to a load including the discharge electrode and the opposite electrode to cause the discharge electrode to perform a discharge;
• and
• a control circuit configured to control the voltage application circuit, based on a monitoring target including at least one of an output current and an output voltage of the voltage application circuit,
• wherein the control circuit causes the voltage application circuit to alternately repeat a first mode that raises the voltage while time elapses, and generates a discharge current by promoting corona discharge to dielectric breakdown, the dielectric breakdown being generated between the discharge electrode and the opposite electrode, and a second mode that lowers the voltage to cut off the discharge current by causing the load to be in an overload state against the voltage application circuit, and
• the control circuit causes the voltage application circuit to operate in the first mode when magnitude of the monitoring target is less than a threshold, and causes the voltage application circuit to operate in the second mode when the magnitude of the monitoring target is not less than the threshold.