《Low_temperature____direct_current_microplasma_jet_operated_in_air__nitrogen_and_oxygen》.pdf

Eur. Phys. J. D 60, 517–522 (2010) THE EUROPEAN DOI: 10.1140/epjd/e2010-00220-7 PHYSICAL JOURNAL D Regular Article Low temperature, atmospheric pressure, direct current microplasma jet operated in air, nitrogen and oxygen 1,2 ,a 3 3 A.-A.H. Mohamed , J.F. Kolb , and K.H. Schoenbach 1 Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Taibah University, Almadinah Almunawwarah, Saudi Arabia 2 Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Beni-Suef University, Egypt 3 Frank Reidy Research Center for Bioelectrics, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia 23510, USA Received 29 April 2010 / Received in final form 13 July 2010 c Published online 8 September 2010 – EDP Sciences, Societ`a Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag 2010 Abstract. Micro-plasma jets in atmospheric pressure molecular gases (nitrogen, oxygen, air) were gener- ated by blowing these gases through direct current microhollow cathode discharges (MHCDs). The tapered discharge channel, drilled through two 100 to 200 µm thick molybdenum electrodes separated by a 200 µm thick alumina layer, is 150 to 450 µm in diameter in the cathode and has an opening of 100 to 300 µm in diameter in the anode. Sustaining voltages are 400 to 600 V, the maximum current is 25 mA. The gas temperature of the microplasma inside the microhollow cathode varies between ∼2000 K and ∼1000 K depending on current, gas, and flow rate. Outside the discharge channel the temperature in the jet can be reduced by manip