Two-dimensional simulation of ac-driven microplasmas confined to 100-300 (mu)m diameter cylindrical microcavities in dielectric barrier devices

A two-dimensional fluid simulation of microplasmas is used to study the ac-driven cylindrical microactivity plasma devices. The analysis reveals that an annular discharge can be easily produced by increasing the gas pressure, which in turn leads to a negative glow in the vicinity of the microcavity wall.