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Plasma potential is a key parameter in plasma discharge or fusion plasma to control plasma–wall interaction or ExB drift. The magnitude of plasma potential depends on the overall energy transmitted to the plasma via direct current (dc) or radio frequency (RF) devices such as electrodes or antennas. Knowing the plasma potential from the exciting source is useful to prevent high energetic fluxes to the wall or to improve the plasma confinement or explaining shear velocity. The aim of the present model is to calculate this plasma potential with respect to a dc or RF source in a magnetized or unmagnetized plasma. This double saturated probe (DSP) model takes into account the electron saturation current and is able to derive the plasma potential as a function of the electrode/wall area ratio for a dc or RF discharge in a helium/argon plasma with or without a magnetic field. The results of the model are compared with Aanesland’s model in the case of unmagnetized capacitive sheath and particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations. The magnetized model is applied to a plasma column with a perpendicular capacitive current in an RF discharge. It appears that the plasma potential can increase to almost the RF potential value at a low wall/electrode area ratio ($A_{\text {wall}}/A_{\text {el}}$ lower than 5), while the same potential collapses as soon as the area ratio (perpendicular over the parallel current area) is higher than the electron/ion saturation current ratio. This is directly due to the saturation of electron current, preventing the plasma potential from following the imposed RF potential by the electrode, so that the maximum value can be as lower as the floating potential. The perpendicular current involved is mainly a conduction current modeled as a resistive collisional current. In fusion plasma, the maximum plasma potential can rise to higher values than in plasma discharges, but the collapse of the potential still occurs for long collisional biased flux tubes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presently, an atmospheric-pressure non-equilibrium microwave discharge plasma jet is expected to be applicable in the sterilization and disinfection equipment for dental implants. However, since the atmospheric-pressure plasma is in non-equilibrium state, there have been no simplified means established to measure basic properties of the plasma. We successfully developed a radical sensor, a simplified tool for detecting oxygen radicals released from plasma by using polyester fiber as base material, and methylene blue as dye. When this sensor detects an oxygen radical, the color of the radical sensor changes from blue, the original color, to white. In this report, we are going to explain the results of the experiments in the fabrication process to verify the behavior of this radical sensor. We combined polyester fiber, the base material of the radical sensor, and methylene blue, the dye, to prototype the radical sensor and used it in our experiments. The radical sensor features the mechanism in which the color changes from blue to white when plasma-irradiated. We used the angle meter to measure the hydrophilicity level and verified the etching effects of the oxygen radicals on the base material in order to clarify this discoloration mechanism. From this result, we found out that the hydrophilicity varied greatly as the flow rate of the oxygen gas used as plasma gas changed and that the color-changing mechanism was due to the adsorption effect of the oxygen radicals. We also used X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to analyze the components to further understand the adsorption effect of the oxygen radicals and clarified that the oxygen radicals accounted for the color-changing mechanism of the radical sensor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plasma density in a magnetized, capacitive-coupled, radio frequency (RF) discharge has been determined using the electrical impedance characteristics of the discharge. The effective impedance between the parallel plate electrodes has been treated as an equivalent electric circuit consisting of resistive and reactive components, expressed in terms of high-frequency plasma conductivity. Hence the model is used to connect the externally measured RF voltage, current, and their relative phase to plasma density. Additionally, a triple Langmuir probe (TLP) is used to substantiate the results of the electrical impedance model. The plasma density obtained using the direct probe measurement is found to be in good agreement with those determined from the passive measurements based on electrical impedance of the discharge as outlined in this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The characteristics of dust coagulation process in gravitational direction are investigated in an ethylene RF (radio frequency) discharge plasma system. The experiment shows that dust particles can aggregate into the huge fractal structure (centimeter scale). The coagulation process is mainly characterized by the scattering laser intensity, the distribution of dust clouds, and the fractal dimension. In this experiment, the rotational characteristics of the huge fractal structure can be observed and investigated by the oscillation of the scattering spectrum. These results provide an experimental basis for the investigation of dust coagulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microwave plasma was generated on top of the electrode by applying microwave radiation of 2.45 GHz in water. The light-emitting region and radicals formed by microwave discharge were investigated. The experimental results showed that the light-emitting region of microwave plasma in water increased with increasing microwave power, and conversely, decreased with increasing pressure; bubble around the plasma also became small when pressure was enhanced. OH radicals, H atoms, and O atoms were identified using optical emission spectroscopic analysis. The emission intensity of these radicals and atoms increased with increasing microwave power and decreased with increasing internal pressure of reactor vessel. Moreover, the electron excitation temperature of the plasma increased with electric power from 3300 to 4100 K and decreased with pressure from 4300 to 4100 K in comparison with the intensities of \textH\alpha and \textH\beta . [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

We study the plasma discharge initiated by microwave radiation with stochastically jumping phase (MWRSJP) in a coaxial waveguide at the optimal mode of the beam-plasma generator. Present results continue the line of the previous research. In this paper, the conditions of a microwave discharge ignition, its stable maintenance in air by MWRSJP, and the pressure range at which required power is minimal are found. We also experimentally examine optical characteristics of the discharge plasma in a wide range of air pressure. In general, the research aims to develop a new type of sources of optical radiation. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]