Publications

Selected publication  

Janda M., Machala Z., Niklová A., Martišovitš V.: The streamer-to-spark transition in a transient spark: a dc-driven nanosecond-pulsed discharge in atmospheric air, Plasma Sources Sci. Technol. 21, 045006 (9pp) (2012).
citations: 66  

Abstract

We present a study of the streamer-to-spark transition in a self-pulsing dc-driven discharge
called a transient spark (TS). The TS is a streamer-to-spark transition discharge with short
spark duration (∼10–100 ns), based on charging and discharging of the internal capacity of the
electric circuit with repetition frequency 1–10 kHz. The TS can be maintained under relatively
low energy conditions (0.1–1 mJ/pulse). It generates a very reactive non-equilibrium air
plasma applicable for flue gas cleaning or bio-decontamination.
Thanks to the short spark current pulse duration, the steady-state gas temperature,
measured at the beginning of the streamers initiating the TS, increases from an initial value of
∼300 K only up to ∼550 K at 10 kHz. The streamer-to-spark transition is governed by the
subsequent increase in the gas temperature in the plasma channel up to ∼1000 K. This
breakdown temperature does not change with increasing repetition frequency f . The heating
after the streamer accelerates with increasing f , leading to a decrease in the average
streamer-to-spark transition time from a few μs to less than 100 ns.