| AVS 57th International Symposium & Exhibition | |
| Plasma Science and Technology | Monday Sessions |
| Session PS2-MoA |
| Session: | Atmospheric Plasma Processing and Micro Plasmas |
| Presenter: | R. Dussart, CNRS/Université D'Orleans, France |
| Authors: | R. Dussart, CNRS/Université D'Orleans, France M.K. Kulsreshath, CNRS/Université D'Orleans, France T. Dufour, CNRS/Université D'Orleans, France L.J. Overzet, University of Texas at Dallas P. Lefaucheux, CNRS/Université D'Orleans, France T. Tillocher, CNRS/Université D'Orleans, France O. Aubry, CNRS/Université D'Orleans, France S. Dozias, CNRS/Université D'Orleans, France P. Ranson, CNRS/Université D'Orleans, France M.J. Goeckner, University of Texas at Dallas J.-B. Lee, University of Texas, Dallas |
| Correspondent: | Click to Email |
Microdischarges have gained the interest of the plasma community for the 15 past years. Among them, Micro Hollow cathode Discharges (MHCDs) have the very interesting property to operate at atmospheric pressure in a stable non thermal regime. We have studied the ignition and extinction of such microdischarges. Our samples are made in alumina, covered by a 5 µm thick Nickel layer on both sides and drilled by a laser process. We made experiments in helium and argon at a pressure between 100 and 1000 Torr. To initiate the plasma, we increase the discharge voltage linearly and slowly (20 sec) until the voltage breakdown was reached. During the microplasma ignition, a high current pulse as high as several tens of microamps appeared before a stable and constant lower value was obtained. We will compare these current pulses to those obtained in the so-called self pulsing regime. We will also show electrical and optical measurements carried out to characterize the phenomenon. Finally, we will show the discharge current and voltage temporal evolution at the very last moments of the microplasma, just before its extinction. The physical mechanism of the ignition and extinction will be discussed to explain the measured waveforms.