Role of the volume and surface breakdown in a formation of microdischarges in a steady-state DBD

The results of an experimental study on a spatial-time behavior of microdischarges (MDs) in steady-state dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) are presented. MDs of DBD have a spatial “memory”, i.e. every subsequent MD appears exactly at the same place that was occupied by the preceding MD. In most cases each MD appears at its fixed place only once by every half-period (HP). Spatial “memory” is derived from slow recombination of plasma in the MDs channels for a period between two neighbor HPs. In steady-state DBD each plasma column was formed only one-time due to local avalanche-streamer breakdown in the very first (initial) gas gap breakdown under inception voltage U^*U^*. After that DBD is sustained under voltage lower than U^*U^*. For the plane-to-plane DBD having the restricted electrode area there is a critical voltage U ₁: DBD is in a steady-state if U > U ₁ but the DBD decays slowly at voltages below U ₁. The decay takes many HPs and occurs due to decreasing the number of MDs inside the gap because of their Brownian motion from central region to the outside of the discharge area. In steady-state DBD there is no correlation between an appearance of alone MD and phase of the applied voltage – each MD has a great scatter in its appearance at the HP. This scatter is attributed to the dispersion in a threshold voltage for local surface breakdowns around the MD base. So, in steady-state DBD the MD volume plasma is responsible for an existence of spatial “memory” (i.e. where the MD appears) but the surface charge distribution around MD is responsible for MD time dispersion (i.e. when the MD appears).     

Novel AC and DC Non-Thermal Plasma Sources for Cold Surface Treatment of Polymer Films and Fabrics at Atmospheric Pressure

Novel types of non-thermal plasma sources at atmospheric pressure based on multi-pin DC (direct current) diffusive glow discharge and AC (alternative current) streamer barrier corona have been elaborated and tested successfully for cold surface treatment of polymer films [polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET),] and polyester fabric. Results on physical properties ofdischarges mentioned and output energy characteristics of new plasma sources as well as data on after-treatment changes in wettability of films and fabrics are presented. The main goal of this study was to find out the experimental conditions for gas discharge and surface processing to achieve a remarkable wettability change for a short treatment time.     

Neutron yield when fast deuterium ions collide with strongly charged tritium-saturated dust particles

The ultrahigh charging of dust particles in a plasma under exposure to an electron beam with an energy up to 25 keV and the formation of a flux of fast ions coming from the plasma and accelerating in the strong field of negatively charged particles are considered. Particles containing tritium or deuterium atoms are considered as targets. The calculated rates of thermonuclear fusion reactions in strongly charged particles under exposure to accelerated plasma ions are presented. The neutron generation rate in reactions with accelerated deuterium and tritium ions has been calculated for these targets. The neutron yield has been calculated when varying the plasma-forming gas pressure, the plasma density, the target diameter, and the beam electron current density. Deuterium and tritium-containing particles are shown to be the most promising plasmaforming gas–target material pair for the creation of a compact gas-discharge neutron source based on the ultrahigh charging of dust particles by beam electrons with an energy up to 25 keV.     

Role of the near-electrode regions in the formation of the volume discharge heterogeneity in nitrogen in the pin-to-plane configuration

The development of streamers and sparks in nitrogen at atmospheric pressure in the pin-to-plane electrode configuration is studied in experiments and theoretical calculations. It is demonstrated that the near-electrode regions play the decisive role in streamer initiation. At a negative pin voltage, a spark is formed in the absence of fast primary streamers. At a positive pin voltage, streamer build-up is initiated by the current spots on the anode that result from the development of the ionization instabilities in the anode region. The calculations show that the formation of the current spot on the anode leads to a redistribution of the electric field in the vicinity of the anode, so that a single avalanche is transformed into a streamer under the conditions when the known criterion for streamer breakdown (the Meek-Raether criterion) is not satisfied. Original Text ? Astro, Ltd., 2006.     

Synthesis of oligo-6-bromo-6-deoxy-β-cyclodextrins

Two methods of synthesis of oligo-6-bromo-6-deoxy--cyclodextrins, with use of the Vilsmeier-Haack reagent and via tosyl derivatives of -cyclodextrin, were compared. The second method holds more promise, since it allows a desired number of bromine atoms to be introduced into the -cyclodextrin molecule instead of hydroxy groups. A correlation between the decomposition onset points of oligo-6-bromo-6-deoxy--cyclodextrins and the number of bromine substituents in them was revealed.Translated from Zhurnal Obshchei Khimii, Vol. 74, No. 10, 2004, pp. 1743–1745.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2004 by Kurochkina, Trushkin, Grachev, Nifantev.This revised version was published online in April 2005 with a corrected cover date.     

Modulation effects in non-drilling NMR in the Earth’s field

The paper describes the variant of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) in the Earth’s field using no prepolarization. This method can be employed to record the NMR signal of underground proton-containing liquids, such as water, located at the depth of more than 100 m without drilling. The non-drilling NMR in the Earth’s field is recorded by locating on the surface the circular wire with a diameter of about 100 m. This wire serves as an antenna for the exciting field source and the NMR signal receiver. The radiofrequency pulse with the carrier frequency equal to that of proton resonance in the Earth’s field is passed through the wire. When the exciting pulse is switched off, the induction e.m.f. signal caused by the free Larmor nuclear precession in the geomagnetic fields is observed. An important case when in the non-drilling NMR in the Earth’s field the signal is excited and observed at different frequencies is studied both from theoretical and practical viewpoints. The resulting modulation effects are considered. Such situations arise e.g. either in magnetic rocks or upon magnetic storms.     

One-Atmosphere Argon Dielectric-Barrier Corona Discharge as an Effective Source of Cold Plasma for the Treatment of Polymer Films and Fabrics

The properties of an ac dielectric-barrier corona discharge in argon under atmospheric pressure were studied and the results of testing of this type of gas discharge in the low-temperature treatment of polymer films and fabrics for the purpose of enhancement of their wettability were reported.