Publications

Selected publication  

Janda M., Martišovitš V., Machala Z.: Transient spark: a dc-driven repetitively pulsed discharge and its control by electric circuit parameters, Plasma Sources Sci. Technol. 20, 035015 (10pp) (2011).
citations: 58  

Abstract

The paper presents an analysis of electrical characteristics of streamer-to-spark transition discharge in air at atmospheric pressure named transient spark (TS). The TS is applicable for flue gas cleaning or bio-decontamination and has potential in plasma shielding, combustion
and flow control applications. Despite the dc applied voltage, TS has a pulsed character with short (∼10–100 ns) high current (>1 A) pulses, with repetitive frequencies 1–20 kHz.
Estimation of the temporal evolution of electron density shows that ne ≈ 1016 cm−3 at maximum and ∼1011 cm−3 on average are reached using relatively low power delivered to the plasma (0.2–3 W). Thanks to the high repetition frequency, ne between two current pulses does
not fall below a critical value and therefore plasma exists during the whole time.
A detailed analysis of the TS control by electrical circuit parameters is presented. With appropriate circuit components, the current pulse tail (>1 mA) can be extended and the electron density can be held above ∼1013 cm−3for several tens of μs.