Influence of Negative Ions on Drift Waves in a Low‐Density Ar/O2‐Plasma

The effect of negative ions on the drift wave instability has been studied in detail in a linear device by means of Langmuir probes and cross‐correlation analysis. Drift waves are excited in low‐density (5 × 10¹⁴ m^–3) and strongly magnetized (0.5 T) pure argon plasmas and in the presence of an oxygen admixture. The radial density profile of negative ions is hollow. For increasing concentration of negative ions the wave frequency decreases by about 25%. Despite of an axial density gradient, a global wave frequency is established for the entire column length. While for the noble gas case the drift wave frequency is given by the equilibrium plasma parameters in the mid‐plane, there is no such relationship for the argon plasma with oxygen admixture. This different finding is attributed to the inhomogeneous distribution of the negative ions (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Broad‐Band Time‐Resolved Near Infrared Spectroscopy in the TJ‐II Stellarator

First experimental results on broad‐band, time‐resolved Near Infrared (NIR;here loosely defined as covering from 750 to 1650 nm) passive spectroscopy using a high sensitivity InGaAs detector are reported for the TJ‐II Stellarator. Experimental set‐up is described together with its main characteristics, the most remarkable ones being its enhanced NIR response, broadband spectrum acquisition in a single shot, and time‐resolved measurements with up to 1.8 kHz spectral rate. Prospects for future work and more extended physics studies in this newly open spectral region in TJ‐II are discussed. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Measurement of C2 and CH temperatures in argon‐acetylene low‐pressure microwave‐induced plasma

The emission spectra of C₂(d³Π_g–a³Π_u), CH(A²Δ–X²Π), and CH(B²Σ–X²Π) bands are analysed to measure rotational T_rot, vibrational T_vib, and gas temperature T_g from Ar/C₂H₂ (5–20% C₂H₂) microwave‐induced plasma (MIP). In case when helium and hydrogen are used in the gas mixture instead of argon, no significant change in T_rot is noticed. Both studied temperatures are insensitive in terms of the C₂H₂ percentage. From CH(0–0, A²Δ–X²Π) band R₂ branch lines, two T_rot (T_rot ～ 520–580 K for J′ = 3–9 and T_rot ～ 1,700–1,800 K for J′ = 10–17) are determined. The lower T_rot equals the T_g (500–700 K) measured from C₂ bands in this study. The H₂ Fulcher‐α diagonal bands are recorded as well in the H₂/C₂H₂ mixtures and T_rot～750–900 K of the H₂ ground state measured. T_vib ～ 6,000 K in Ar/C₂H₂ MIP is calculated from the integral intensity ratio of C₂(2,1) and C₂(3,2) bands.     

Measurement of optical signals as a plasma propagation in the atmospheric pressure plasma jet columns

The propagation of plasma jets with argon gas is characterized in terms of two factors, the effect of electric field distribution along the tube and the effect of voltage polarity, from the observed results of optical signals along the entire column of plasma. The optical signal of plasma propagates from the high electric-field region of high-voltage electrode toward the low field region of the open air-space, regardless of the polarity of the voltage. The optical intensity and the propagation velocity are higher for the positive voltage than for the negative voltage. Moreover, the length of plasma plume exited from the end of the glass tube into the open air is shorter for the negative voltage. When the optical intensity is strong enough, a secondary peak signal follows the primary peak. In the plasma column on the inside of the glass tube, the optical intensity and the propagation velocity depend on the strength of the electric field; they are both high at the high-field region of voltage terminal and decay toward the end of the tube. The velocity is as fast as 10⁴ m/s at the high-field region and slows down to 10³ m/s at the low-field region of the glass-tube end. However, the plasma accelerates drastically to be (10⁴–10⁵) m/s after exiting the glass tube toward open air, even though the electric field is a quite low and thus the optical signal decays low before fading out. The experimental observations present in this report are explained with the propagation of the plasma diffusion waves.     

Study of uniformity of plasmas produced in a wall‐stabilized arc

In this contribution the plasma of an arc discharge in a mixture of helium and argon is studied. The gas mixture is introduced uniformly along the arc column between each of the stabilizing plates. From the measured lateral distribution of radiation (HeI, HI, ArI, ArII, NI, FI line intensity and width measurements), after Abel inversion, the radial temperature distributions were obtained at various positions of the arc column. Beside the expected radial temperature gradients, a distinct temperature gradient along the arc column was found.     

Online diagnosis of electron excitation temperature in CH<Subscript>4</Subscript>+H<Subscript>2</Subscript> discharge plasma at atmospheric pressure by optical emission spectra

Methane coupling under low temperature plasmas at atmospheric pressure is a green process by use of renewable sources of energy. In this study, CH₄+H₂ discharge plasma was on-line diagnosed by optical emission spectra so as to characterize the discharge system and to do spade work for the optimization of the technical parameters for future commercial production of methane coupling under plasmas. The study was focused on a calculation method for the online diagnosis of the electron excitation temperature in CH₄+H₂ discharge plasma at atmospheric pressure. The diagnostic method is easy, efficient and fairly precise. A serious error in a literature was corrected during the reasoning of its series of equations formerly used to calculate electron temperatures in plasmas. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 29776037 and 10675028) and the Science and Technology Development Foundation of SINOPEC (Grant No. X500005)     

Real‐Time Measurement of the Size Distribution of Diesel Exhaust Particles using a Portable 4‐stage Electrical Low Pressure Impactor

For this study, a 4 stage electrical low pressure impactor was designed to measure the real‐time size distribution of diesel particulate matter (DPM). For the performance evaluation, sodium chloride (NaCl) particles and dioctyl sebacate (DOS) particles were used. After evaluating the collection efficiency of each stage of the impactor, the size distributions of test particles were estimated using electrical current data and their inversion algorithm, and this was found to agree with the results obtained by a scanning mobility particle sizer (SMPS). For measurement of DPM, a common‐rail direct injection (CRDI) diesel engine, for engine speeds of 1,200 rpm and 1,500 rpm at 2.7 kgf·m, was used. Therefore, it was found that the size distribution of the DPM could be easily obtained, with the currents measured by the impactor and the data inversion algorithm, in less than 5 seconds. Furthermore, the effective density of the DPM could be obtained using the calculated results and the SMPS data.     

The Dual Mode Microwave Afterglow Apparatus for Measuring the Electron Temperature Dependence of the Electron‐Ion Recombination

Three dual mode microwave apparatus (one using S ‐band and two using X ‐band) have been developed to determine ambipolar diffusion and electron‐ion recombination rates under conditions such that T_gas = 300K and T_e is varied from 300 K to 6300 K, in the afterglow period of the dc glow discharge. TheTM₀₁₀ cylindrical cavity (in S ‐band) and TM₀₁₁ open cylindrical cavity (X ‐band) are used to determine the electron density during the afterglow period and a non‐resonant waveguide mode is used to apply a constant microwave heating field to the electrons. To test the properties of the apparatus the neon afterglow plasma has been investigated. At T_e = 300 K a value of α (Ne⁺₂) = (1.7± 0.2) × 10^–7cm³/s is obtained which is in good agreement with values of other investigators. Also similar variations of α as T^–0.4_e (S ‐band) and as T^–0.42_e (X ‐band) obeyed over the range 300 ≤ Te ≤ 6300K are in good agreement with some other previous measurements. The simplicity of the X‐band microwave apparatus also allows the measurements of the gas temperature dependency and the study of electron attachment and may be used simultaneously with optical or mass spectrometry investigations. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Effect of Finite Rise Time on the Strength of the Magnetic Field Generated in a Switched Plasma

The effect of a magnetized transient plasma on a circularly polarized source wave, when the rise time of the electron density profile is comparable to the source wave period, is considered. The H-formulation Green's function is developed to study the effect of a finite rise time on the generation of a wiggler magnetic field.     

Mineralization of flexible mesoporous TiO2 photoanodes using two low‐temperature dielectric barrier discharges in ambient air

Two types of dielectric barrier discharges (DBDs), volume DBD (called Industrial Corona) and coplanar DBD, were used for low temperature (70 °C) atmospheric pressure plasma mineralization of mesoporous methyl‐silica/titanium dioxide nanocomposite photoanodes. The photoanodes with a thickness of approx. 300 nm were inkjet‐printed on flexible polyethylene terephthalate (PET) foils. Plasma treatments of both DBDs led to changes in the chemical stoichiometry and morphology of the mesoporous photoanodes, resulting in a significant increase of the work function from approx. 4.0 to 4.3 eV and 4.8 eV, after plasma mineralization with volume DBD and coplanar DBD, respectively. We also studied the effect of plasma mineralization on the photoelectrochemical properties of the flexible mesoporous TiO₂ photoanodes. Plasma mineralization with volume DBD and coplanar DBD showed different effects on the generated photocurrent in the photoanodes. Although the plasma mineralization with volume DBD showed only a minor effect on the photocurrent, plasma mineralization with coplanar DBD led to significantly higher photocurrents. We found that the enhancement of the photoelectrochemical properties was related to the homogeneity of the plasma‐treated surfaces—arising from different spatial properties of the plasma between volume and coplanar DBDs. Furthermore, the results showed that plasma mineralization using coplanar DBD can effectively change the energy levels of the surface. This resulted in the enhancement of the work function and the photoelectrochemical properties of the mesoporous TiO₂ photoanodes. This contribution shows that coplanar arrangement of electrodes in DBDs generates plasma of higher efficacy compared with standard volume DBD that is currently often used in industrial processes.     

分子发射光谱法测量微波等离子体气体温度

通过OH自由基A2Σ+→X2Π_r电子带系分子发射光谱测温法,实现了对氩气、氮气、空气三种大气压微波等离子体气体温度的测量。探究了不同微波功率、不同气体流量下气体温度的变化规律,测量了氮气、空气微波等离子体羽流的轴向温度分布。实验结果表明,不同工作条件下微波等离子体核心温度普遍超过2 000 K,空气微波等离子体可超过6 000 K;同样工作条件下三种微波等离子体气体温度满足：T_Ar<T_N2<T_Air;气体温度总体上随微波功率增加而小幅增加,随气体流量下降而小幅降低;氮气与空气等离子体羽流温度沿轴向迅速降低。为验证分子发射光谱测温法的准确性,以热电偶测温作为比对,对温度较低的介质阻挡放电氩气等离子体进行了温度测量,实验表明,分子发射光谱法与热电偶所测结果十分接近。     

大气压氩气射流等离子体的光谱特性研究

等离子体喷枪是一种重要的等离子体源,已成为近几年低温等离子体研究的一个重要课题。本文利用钨针-钨丝网电极制作了直流喷枪装置,在大气压空气中产生了稳定的等离子体羽,并采用发射光谱的方法,对等离子体羽的等离子体参数进行了研究。在钨针电极与钨丝网电极之间放出耀眼的白光,钨丝网电极出口的气流下游有火苗形状的等离子体羽喷出。在电压保持不变的条件下(13.5 kV),等离子体羽长度随气体流量增加而增大;在气体流量保持不变的条件下(10 L·min-1),羽长度随外加电压的增大而增大。在气体流量一定的条件下,放电电压和放电电流呈反比例关系,即电压随着电流的增大而减小,说明放电属于辉光放电。采集了该喷枪在300～800 nm范围内的放电发射光谱,通过玻尔兹曼方法对放电等离子体电子激发温度进行了测量。结果表明,电子的激发温度随外加电压的增大而降低,随着工作气体流量的减小而升高。利用放电的基本理论对上述现象做了解释。这些研究结果对大气压均匀放电等离子体源的研制和工业应用具有重要意义。     

Non‐linear interaction of a q‐Gaussian laser beam in a plasma channel created by the ignitor‐heater technique

This paper presents a theoretical investigation of the propagation characteristics of a q‐Gaussian laser beam propagating through a plasma channel created by the ignitor‐heater technique. The ignitor beam creates the plasma by tunnel‐ionization of air. The heater beam heats the plasma electrons and establishes a parabolic channel. The third beam (q‐Gaussian beam) is guided in the plasma channel under the combined effects of density non‐uniformity and non‐uniform ohmic heating of the plasma channel. Numerical solutions of the non‐linear Schrodinger wave equation (NSWE) for the fields of laser beams are obtained with the help of the moment theory approach. Particular emphasis is placed on the dynamical variations of the spot size of the laser beams and the longitudinal phase shift of the guided beam with the distance of propagation.     

Cell viability and measurement of reactive species in gas- and liquid-phase exposed by a microwave-excited atmospheric pressure argon plasma jet

A microwave-excited atmospheric pressure plasma jet (ME-APPJ) was generated utilizing coaxial transmission line resonators with the resonance frequency of 788 MHz. We investigated the effects of the operating parameters such as input power and gas flow rate on the electron excitation temperature and electron density using optical emission spectroscopy. The amounts of various reactive species in the plasma-activated media (PAM) exposed by the ME-APPJ were estimated using colorimetric methods. The PAM was applied to A549 cultured cells and subsequently incubated for a given duration. The concentrations of NO₂⁻ and H₂O₂ in the PAM incubating A549 cells were monitored until 24 h. The reduced cell viability rate was observed on A549 cells incubated in the PAM. The concentrations of NO₂⁻ and H₂O₂ and the viability of A549 cells depended on the operating conditions of ME-APPJ. The cell viability rate exhibited a decrease with increasing power and decreasing gas flow rate. Correlation between the concentrations of gaseous reactive species in the plasma and in the PAM and the cell viability is discussed.     

Multidimensional Instability of Dust‐Acoustic Solitary Waves in a Magnetized Hot Dusty Plasma with Superthermal Electrons and Ions

Multidimensional instability of dust‐acoustic solitary wave (DASW) in magnetized dusty plasma with superthermal electrons and ions and micron size hot dust particles is investigated. The Zakharov‐Kuznetsov (ZK) equation, describing the small but finite amplitude DASW, was derived using the reductive perturbation method and its solitary answers was introduced. Effects of electrons and ions superthermality as well as the external magnetic field on the nature of DASW are discussed in detail. Dispersion relation, threshold condition, and growth rate of multidimensional instability of DASW were derived using small‐k (long wavelength plane wave) perturbation expansion method. We found that the direction and strength of external magnetic field extremely affect the growth rate and instability criterion. Results show that growth rate of instability decreases with increasing the number of superthermal electrons and increases with increasing the number of superthermal ions. (© 2015 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

利用介质阻挡探针法测量大气压氦等离子体射流电子密度

分别利用电子的漂移速度和等离子体的传播速度计算了大气压下氦等离子体射流的电子密度。     

Longitudinal electron waves in plasma formed at multi‐photon ionization of atoms by a short laser pulse

The dispersion law and the collisionless damping decrement of high‐frequency waves in a plasma formed as a result of multi‐photon ionization of atoms by a laser pulse are found. Estimates indicating that such waves may exist in a weakly ionized xenon plasma are given.     

Time lag as a characteristic feature in the identification of a moving object by a two‐detector X‐ray sensor

The authors conduct an experimental study of the dynamics of secondary (diffusely scattered and fluorescent) X‐ray radiation originating from the moving grains of minerals and offer a semi‐quantitative explanation for it. They compare the secondary radiation's amplitudes for the free falling grains of natural diamond and for its accompanying minerals that are changing over time. The signals are simultaneously registered by two detectors placed in the upper and lower spatial half‐planes relative to the horizontal flux of primary X‐ray radiation. The authors show that the time difference between the occurrence of dynamic signals' maximums in the detectors allows to identify the type of irradiated mineral. This time lag is negligibly small for a diamond but for the accompanying mineral it is close to its flight time through the irradiation zone. The authors have constructed and tested the laboratory model of a separator that showed a high degree of diamond extraction from the mixture of different minerals. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Quantum regime of a plasma‐wave‐pumped free‐electron laser in the presence of an axial magnetic field

The quantum regime of a plasma‐whistler‐wave‐pumped free‐electron laser (FEL) in the presence of an axial‐guide magnetic field is presented. By quantizing both the plasma whistler field and axial magnetic field, an N‐particle three‐dimensional Hamiltonian of quantum‐FEL (QFEL) has been derived. Employing Heisenberg evolution equations and introducing a new collective operator which controls the vertical motion of electrons, a quantum dispersion relation of the plasma whistler wiggler has been obtained analytically. Numerical results indicate that, by increasing the intrinsic quantum momentum spread and/or increasing the axial magnetic field strength, the bunching and the radiation fields grow exponentially. In addition, a spiking behavior of the spectrum was observed with increasing cyclotron frequency which provides an enormous improvement in the coherence of QFEL radiation even in a limit close‐to‐classical regime, where an overlapping of these spikes is observed. Also, an upper limit of the intrinsic quantum momentum spread which depends on the value of the cyclotron frequency was found.     

Plasma–wall transition in the quasi‐neutral region of collisional and stationary plasmas in a magnetic field enclosed by totally absorbing walls

The structure of stationary electron–positive ion plasmas in spatially limited vessels is analysed with special emphasis on the plasma–wall transition using different physical models. Basic investigations are carried out in a two‐fluid model, which is supplemented by ionization and oblique magnetic fields. Collisions between the two particle species were taken into account, as well as the dependence of the collision frequency on the particle density. For the case of non‐vanishing magnetic fields, electrons are not assumed to be in Boltzmann equilibrium. The investigated one‐dimensional domain is limited by totally absorbing walls on each side. Stationary states are considered, in which ionization sources balance the wall losses. To also take into account kinetic effects, simulations in a quasi‐neutral hybrid model are performed. The hybrid model assumes the electrons as a fluid and treats the ions using a particle‐in‐cell (PIC) method. A new way of ensuring the Bohm criterion is used by removing those superparticles impeding the wall. When comparing the results, both models reveal differences, especially when ionization from a resting neutral gas or weakly magnetized plasmas is considered, causing a broadening of the ion distribution or anisotropy effects, respectively.