Date of Award
2017
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Engineering (MSE)
Department
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Committee Chair
Kunning G. Xu
Committee Member
Jason T. Cassibry
Committee Member
Christopher Dobson
Subject(s)
Plasma diagnostics, Plasma probes, Emission spectroscopy
Abstract
This study investigated the application of physical probes and optical emission spectroscopy to an atmospheric microplasma jet to determine the gas temperature, electron temperature, and electron density of the plasma. Emission lines and species of interest were chosen to determine the impact of experimental configuration on the accuracy of measurements. The results showed that there is a noticeable difference in not only each of the different gas temperature determination methods, but also for individual argon spectral lines when using van der Waals broadening. The usefulness of argon spectral lines also appears to vary with electrode configurations and temperatures. Electron temperature and density were found to increase and decrease, respectively, with an increase in measurement distance. These effects may be attributed to high collisionality via neutralization collisions and continuum flow turbulence due to mixing with ambient air.
Recommended Citation
Doyle, Steven J., "A study of optical and physical probe diagnostic techniques for atmospheric-pressure plasmas" (2017). Theses. 226.
https://louis.uah.edu/uah-theses/226