Experimental study of a one-dimensional plasma jet array in Ar

In order to obtain a large area of the plasma jet, we established a one-dimensional atmospheric Ar gas plasma jet array generating device. The characteristics of the discharge were diagnosed using voltage-current waveforms, luminous images and emission spectrum etc., and the influences of the amplitude of applied voltage, the gas flow rate and the frequency of power supply relate on the array's plasma generation were studied. The optimum working parameters of the array, as well as the discharge power, the amounts of transmission charge, and active particles at this condition, were obtained, and then the repulsion and coupling mechanisms between the discharges were analyzed. According to the luminous images, the optimum conditions of the array can be obtained including the applied voltage of 8.5 kV, frequency of 20 kHz and gas flow rate of 20 L/min, under which the array achieves the longest discharge with the least repulsion and coupling effects between the discharge tubes, as well as the most intensity. Meanwhile, the discharge power and transmission charge are 101.85 W and 1 716 nC, respectively. In the array, there are Coulomb forces and Lorentz forces between the tubes, which induce certain shifts of the plasma jets.