Electrical Characterization of an Air Microplasma Jet Operated at a Low Frequency ac Voltage

L. GIULIANI; D GRONDONA; H KELLY; F MINOTTI

Mar del Plata

Congreso; XIV LatinAmerican Workshop on Plasma Physics; 2011

In this work a small plasma jet is generated applying ac high voltage (KV) and low frequency (50 Hz) between two disk-shaped electrodes with a hole in the center and separated by a dielectric material. A plasma jet emerges from the electrode system to the room air when a large air flow rate is passing through the holes, for inter-electrode voltage drops around 5 – 10 kV. The electrical characteristics of the discharge, voltage and current were studied varying the applied voltage amplitude and the gas flow rate. It was found that the microplasma jet was stable during a long period of time and the gas temperature remained almost at room temperature. These characteristics made this discharge suitable for biological applications.