Numerical description of discharge characteristics of the plasma needle

Journal Article · Fri Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 2005 · Journal of Applied Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1944218· OSTI ID:20713942

Brok, W J.M.; Bowden, M D; Dijk, J van; Kroesen, G M.W. ^[1]

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1. Department of Applied Physics, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB, Eindhoven (Netherlands)

The plasma needle is a small atmospheric, nonthermal, radio-frequency discharge, generated at the tip of a needle, which can be used for localized disinfection of biological tissues. Although several experiments have characterized various qualities of the plasma needle, discharge characteristics and electrical properties are still not well known. In order to provide initial estimates on electrical properties and quantities such as particle densities, we employed a two-dimensional, time-dependent fluid model to describe the plasma needle. In this model the balance equation is solved in the drift-diffusion approach for various species and the electron energy, as well as Poisson's equation. We found that the plasma production occurs in the sheath region and results in a steady flux of reactive species outwards. Even at small (<0.1%) admixtures of N{sub 2} to the He background, N{sub 2}{sup +} is the dominant ion. The electron density is typically 10{sup 11} cm{sup -3} and the dissipated power is in the order of 10 mW. These results are consistent with the experimental data available and can give direction to the practical development of the plasma needle.

• OSTI ID: 20713942
• Journal Information: Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 98, Issue 1; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.1944218; (c) 2005 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0021-8979
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
BALANCES
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ELECTRON DENSITY
ELECTRONS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
HELIUM
HIGH-FREQUENCY DISCHARGES
NITROGEN
NITROGEN IONS
PLASMA
PLASMA DENSITY
PLASMA PRODUCTION
PLASMA SHEATH
POISSON EQUATION
RADIOWAVE RADIATION
STERILIZATION
TIME DEPENDENCE
TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS