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Title: High pressure microhollow cathode discharges in air

Abstract

Research on high pressure, large volume glow discharges in air is motivated by applications such as reflectors and absorbers for electromagnetic radiation, plasma processing, and the remediation of gaseous pollution. In order to prevent glow-to-arc transitions, which in high-pressure glow discharges start in the cathode region, it is proposed to use a plasma cathode consisting of an array of microhollow cathode discharges. To explore the conditions for stable operation of single 100 {micro}m microhollow cathode discharges in flowing air, the current-voltage characteristics, and the visual appearance of a 100 {micro}m microhollow cathode discharge were studied. The results show that the threshold current for the transition from a glow into a filamentary discharge varies inversely with pressure. At pressures of 400 Torr the current in the 100 {micro}m hollow cathode discharge must not exceed 0.5 mA in order for the discharge to be stable. The type of instability, which causes the transition from dc to fluctuating currents, is not known at this time, but the observed dependence of the threshold current from the gas pressure points to a thermal instability. Assuming that the White-Allis scaling law still holds for air discharges at pressures close to atmospheric, it is expected that reducingmore » the cathode hole diameter to 50 {micro}m will allow us to operate microhollow cathode discharges at atmospheric air with currents of up to 0.25 mA. Experimental studies on the effect of the cathode dimensions and cathode material are underway and results will be discussed at the conference.« less

Authors:
; ; ;  [1]
  1. Old Dominion Univ., Norfolk, VA (United States). Physical Electronics Research Inst.
Publication Date:
Sponsoring Org.:
Department of the Air Force, Washington, DC (United States); USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
346886
Report Number(s):
CONF-980601-
Journal ID: ISSN 0730-9244; TRN: IM9920%%103
Resource Type:
Conference
Resource Relation:
Conference: 25. international conference on plasma science, Raleigh, NC (United States), 1-4 Jun 1998; Other Information: PBD: 1998; Related Information: Is Part Of IEEE conference record -- Abstracts. 1998 IEEE international conference on plasma science; PB: 343 p.
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; 32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION; GLOW DISCHARGES; USES; POLLUTION CONTROL EQUIPMENT; AIR POLLUTION CONTROL; PLASMA PRODUCTION; HOLLOW CATHODES; PRESSURE DEPENDENCE; AIR

Citation Formats

Khedr, M A, Stark, R H, Watson, B, and Schoenbach, K H. High pressure microhollow cathode discharges in air. United States: N. p., 1998. Web.
Khedr, M A, Stark, R H, Watson, B, & Schoenbach, K H. High pressure microhollow cathode discharges in air. United States.
Khedr, M A, Stark, R H, Watson, B, and Schoenbach, K H. 1998. "High pressure microhollow cathode discharges in air". United States.
@article{osti_346886,
title = {High pressure microhollow cathode discharges in air},
author = {Khedr, M A and Stark, R H and Watson, B and Schoenbach, K H},
abstractNote = {Research on high pressure, large volume glow discharges in air is motivated by applications such as reflectors and absorbers for electromagnetic radiation, plasma processing, and the remediation of gaseous pollution. In order to prevent glow-to-arc transitions, which in high-pressure glow discharges start in the cathode region, it is proposed to use a plasma cathode consisting of an array of microhollow cathode discharges. To explore the conditions for stable operation of single 100 {micro}m microhollow cathode discharges in flowing air, the current-voltage characteristics, and the visual appearance of a 100 {micro}m microhollow cathode discharge were studied. The results show that the threshold current for the transition from a glow into a filamentary discharge varies inversely with pressure. At pressures of 400 Torr the current in the 100 {micro}m hollow cathode discharge must not exceed 0.5 mA in order for the discharge to be stable. The type of instability, which causes the transition from dc to fluctuating currents, is not known at this time, but the observed dependence of the threshold current from the gas pressure points to a thermal instability. Assuming that the White-Allis scaling law still holds for air discharges at pressures close to atmospheric, it is expected that reducing the cathode hole diameter to 50 {micro}m will allow us to operate microhollow cathode discharges at atmospheric air with currents of up to 0.25 mA. Experimental studies on the effect of the cathode dimensions and cathode material are underway and results will be discussed at the conference.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/346886}, journal = {},
issn = {0730-9244},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Dec 31 00:00:00 EST 1998},
month = {Thu Dec 31 00:00:00 EST 1998}
}

Conference:
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