Dynamics of atmospheric pressure plasma plumes in the downstream and upstream regions

Abstract

A novel plasma jet driven by an alternating current voltage is developed to generate atmospheric pressure non-equilibrium plasma plumes in the downstream region and in the upstream one of the argon flow. The angle between the rod electrode and the gas flow can be changed easily, and the plume lengths in the downstream and upstream regions are investigated as a function of the angle and the peak voltage. With increasing the peak voltage, the discharge pulse number tends to increase for every half voltage cycle. Using an intensified charge-coupled device camera, the dynamics of the plasma plumes is also investigated in the downstream and upstream regions. The dynamics of the plumes is qualitatively explained by the streamer propagations influenced by residual charges. Plasma jet generates the plumes in the downstream and upstream regions. The angle between the main electric field and the gas flow can be changed easily. The dynamics of the downstream plume and the upstream plume is investigated by high-speed photography, which is qualitatively explained by the streamer propagations influenced by the residual charges.