arXiv subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Monali Mandra.
Parallel Micro Hollow Cathodes Discharges are characterised by electrical and spectroscopic studies and by using an ICCD camera. V-I curves present a hysteresis cycle between Townsend and normal glow regimes. For I d =4-10mA, gas temperature ranges between 300-500{\textdegree}C. When the diameter of a hole decreases, a more significant discharge voltage is needed.
Microplasma arrays operating in helium in a DC regime have been produced in silicon microre-actors. Cathode boundary layer (CBL) type microdevices were elaborated using clean room facilities and semiconductor processing techniques. Ignition of the micro-discharge arrays having either 50 or 100 m diameter cavities was studied. Two different structures (isotropically etched or anisotropically etched cavity) and various conditions (the two different voltage polarities, pressures etc.) were investigated. 100 microdis-charges of 50 m diameter could be ignited in parallel at 1000 torr. At high current, some parasitic and transient sparks appeared at the edge of the sample. When the polarization was reversed (cathode side corresponding the opened electrode), more current was needed to light all the microdischarges. A thermally affected zone around the hole on the anode side was obtained after operation.
The available diagnostics for atmospheric micro-plasmas remain limited and relatively complex to implement; so we present a radio-frequency technique for diagnosing a key parameter here. The technique allows one to estimate the dependencies of the electron density by measuring the RF-impedance of the micro-plasma and analyzing it with an appropriate equivalent circuit. This technique is inexpensive, can be used in real time and gives reasonable results for argon and helium DC micro-plasmas in holes over a wide pressure range. The electron density increases linearly with current in the expected range consistent with normal glow discharge behavior.