The role of molecular air species in atmospheric pressure plasma jets

摘要

We present in this work the influence of different levels of molecular air components in the atmospheric pressure plasma jet dynamics. The spatial composition along the helium gas channel in ambient air is varied through two interacting helium gas channels in air, with a plasma jet ignited in one channel. The plasma ignites in quite a pure helium channel, as it propagates the nitrogen impurity increases initially and then to a purer helium channel as it enters the second opposing gas channel. The ICCD images shows when the guided streamer "plasma pulse" travels through different gas environments its structure changes, showing very similar structures in environments of similar gas composition. The results show the guided streamer can propagates at the edge of the helium channel where the nitrogen concentration is necessary to sustain the streamer propagation.