Characterization of pulsed atmospheric-pressure plasma streams (PAPS) generated by a plasma gun

• Published in: Plasma sources science & technology 2012-06, Vol.21 (3), p.34017-1-12
• Main Authors: Robert, E, Sarron, V, Riès, D, Dozias, S, Vandamme, M, Pouvesle, J-M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Capillarity; Charge coupled devices; Devices; Nanocomposites; Nanomaterials; Nanostructure; Physics; Plasma Physics; Projectiles; Streams
• ISSN: 0963-0252; 1361-6595
• DOI: 10.1088/0963-0252/21/3/034017

An experimental study of atmospheric-pressure rare gas plasma propagation in a high-aspect-ratio capillary is reported. The plasma is generated with a plasma gun device based on a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) reactor powered by either nanosecond or microsecond rise-time high-voltage pulses at single-shot to multi-kHz frequencies. The influence of the voltage waveform, pulse polarity, pulse repetition rate and capillary material have been studied using nanosecond intensified charge-coupled device imaging and plasma-front velocity measurements. The evolution of the plasma appearance during its propagation and the study of the role of the different experimental parameters lead us to suggest a new denomination of pulsed atmospheric-pressure plasma streams to describe all the plasma features, including the previously so-called plasma bullet. The unique properties of such non-thermal plasma launching in capillaries, far from the primary DBD plasma, are associated with a fast ionization wave travelling with velocity in the 107-108 cm s−1 range. Voltage pulse tailoring is shown to allow for a significant improvement of such plasma delivery. Thus, the plasma gun device affords unique opportunities in biomedical endoscopic applications.