The Stabilization of an Atmosphere of Plasma Based Carbon Dioxide at Atmospheric Pressure

Abstract

Some reasons are discussed for the stabilization of a glow discharge at atmospheric pressure which was attained by controlling the following three conditions: the use of a highfrequency source, the use of gas for dilution and the insertion of a dielectric plate between electrodes. The three conditions interact: the dielectric plate in a plasma forms the pulsed discharge from a lowfrequency source, the fast duration of pulse current prevents a transition to an arc style discharge and a large volume of met stable atomic carbon dioxide aids ionization or dissociation near the electrode plate and in the flowing gas. The measurements of discharge-maintaining voltage at several hundred volts provide evidence that this is really glow plasma at atmospheric pressure. The changes of the emission intensities of metastable carbon dioxide prove indirectly that some dissociation occurs as a result of the action. Key Terms – Atmospheric Pressure, Carbon Dioxide, Plasma, Stabilization.