Surface charge in dielectric barrier discharge plasma actuators

Journal Article · Tue Jul 15 00:00:00 EDT 2008 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2955767· OSTI ID:21269001

Opaits, D F; Shneider, M N; Miles, Richard B ^[1]; Likhanskii, A V ^[2]; Macheret, S O ^[3]

---

1. Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544 (United States)
2. Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802 (United States)
3. Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company, Palmdale, California 93599 (United States)

Direct measurements of the dielectric surface potential and its dynamics in asymmetric dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma actuators show that the charge builds up at the dielectric surface and extends far downstream of the plasma. The surface charge persists for a long time (tens of minutes) after the driving voltage has been turned off. For a sinusoidal voltage waveform, the dielectric surface charges positively. With the voltage waveform consisting of nanosecond pulses superimposed on a dc bias, the sign of the dielectric surface charge is the same as the sign (polarity) of the bias voltage. The surface charging significantly affects DBD plasma actuator performance.

• OSTI ID: 21269001
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 7 Vol. 15; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
ASYMMETRY
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
PLASMA
SURFACE POTENTIAL
WAVE FORMS