Breakdown voltages in atmospheric pressure helium microplasmas with added O

摘要

Microplasmas are currently in use, and being developed for a number of uses including plasma televisions [1] and medical applications [2]. The ability for these plasmas to remain relatively ‘cold’ whilst maintaining a rich chemical environment makes them particularly attractive for temperature - sensitive treatments. Along with the plasma-induced chemistry, to fully unlock the potential of microplasmas the RF electrical breakdown of 10's of micron wide gaps in flowing gas mixtures needs to be understood. This is critical in developing microplasmas that are tailor-made for specific applications.