Judith Golda

Pressure broadening of atomic oxygen two-photon absorption laser induced fluorescence

Atomic oxygen, considered to be a determining reactant in plasma applications at ambient pressure, is routinely detected by two-photon absorption laser induced fluorescence (TALIF). Here, pressure broadening of the (2p 4 3 P 2 → 3p 3 P J=0,1,2) two-photon transition in oxygen atoms was investigated using a high-resolution TALIF technique in normal and Doppler-free configurations. The pressure broadening coefficients determined were = 0.40 ± 0.08 cm−1/bar for oxygen molecules and = 0.46 ± 0.03 cm−1/bar for helium atoms. These correspond to pressure broadening rate constants = 9 10–9 cm3 s−1 and = 4 10−9 cm3 s−1, respectively. The well-known quenching rate constants of O(3p 3 P J ) by O2 and He are at least one order of magnitude smaller, which signifies that non-quenching collisions constitute the main line-broadening mechanism. In addition to providing new insights into collisional processes of oxygen atoms in electronically excited 3p 3 P J state, reported pressure broadening parameters are important for quantification of oxygen TALIF line profiles when both collisional and Doppler broadening mechanisms are important. Thus, the Doppler component (and hence the temperature of oxygen atoms) can be accurately determined from high resolution TALIF measurements in a broad range of conditions.

Summarizing results on the performance of a selective set of atmospheric plasma jets for separation of photons and reactive particles

A microscale atmospheric-pressure plasma jet is a remote plasma jet, where plasma-generated reactive particles and photons are involved in substrate treatment. Here, we summarize our efforts to develop and characterize a particle- or photon-selective set of otherwise identical jets. In that way, the reactive species or photons can be used separately or in combination to study their isolated or combined effects to test whether the effects are additive or synergistic. The final version of the set of three jets—particle-jet, photon-jet and combined jet—is introduced. This final set realizes the highest reproducibility of the photon and particle fluxes, avoids turbulent gas flow, and the fluxes of the selected plasma-emitted components are almost identical in the case of all jets, while the other component is effectively blocked, which was verified by optical emission spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Schlieren-imaging and a fluid dynamics simulation show the stability of the gas flow. The performance of these selective jets is demonstrated with the example of the treatment of E. coli bacteria with the different components emitted by a He-only, a He/N2 and a He/O2 plasma. Additionally, measurements of the vacuum UV photon spectra down to the wavelength of 50 nm can be made with the photon-jet and the relative comparison of spectral intensities among different gas mixtures is reported here. The results will show that the vacuum UV photons can lead to the inactivation of the E.coli bacteria.

Chemical fingerprints of cold physical plasmas – an experimental and computational study using cysteine as tracer compound

Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species released by cold physical plasma are being proposed as effectors in various clinical conditions connected to inflammatory processes. As these plasmas can be tailored in a wide range, models to compare and control their biochemical footprint are desired to infer on the molecular mechanisms underlying the observed effects and to enable the discrimination between different plasma sources. Here, an improved model to trace short-lived reactive species is presented. Using FTIR, high-resolution mass spectrometry, and molecular dynamics computational simulation, covalent modifications of cysteine treated with different plasmas were deciphered and the respective product pattern used to generate a fingerprint of each plasma source. Such, our experimental model allows a fast and reliable grading of the chemical potential of plasmas used for medical purposes. Major reaction products were identified to be cysteine sulfonic acid, cystine, and cysteine fragments. Less-abundant products, such as oxidized cystine derivatives or S-nitrosylated cysteines, were unique to different plasma sources or operating conditions. The data collected point at hydroxyl radicals, atomic O, and singlet oxygen as major contributing species that enable an impact on cellular thiol groups when applying cold plasma in vitro or in vivo.

Origin of microplasma instabilities during DC operation of silicon based microhollow cathode devices

The failure mechanisms of micro hollow cathode discharges (MHCD) in silicon have been investigated using their I-V characteristics, high speed photography and scanning electron microscopy. Experiments were carried out in helium. We observed I–V instabilities in the form of rapid voltage decreases associated with current spikes. The current spikes can reach values more than 100 times greater than the average MHCD current. (The peaks can be more than 1 Ampere for a few 10’s of nanoseconds.) These current spikes are correlated in time with 3–10 μm diameter optical flashes that occur inside the cavities. The SEM characterizations indicated that blister-like structures form on the Si surface during plasma operation. Thin Si layers detach from the surface in localized regions. We theorize that shallow helium implantation occurs and forms the ‘blisters’ whenever the Si is biased as the cathode. These blisters ‘explode’ when the helium pressure inside them becomes too large leading to the transient micro-arcs seen in both the optical emission and the I–V characteristics. We noted that blisters were never found on the metal counter electrode, even when it was biased as the cathode (and the Si as the anode). This observation led to a few suggestions for delaying the failure of Si MHCDs. One may coat the Si cathode (cavities) with blister resistant material; design the MHCD array to operate with the Si as the anode rather than as the cathode; or use a gas additive to prevent surface damage. Regarding the latter, tests using SF6 as the gas additive successfully prevented blister formation through rapid etching. The result was an enhanced MHCD lifetime.

Width-dependent interaction of trench-like microdischarges arranged in sub-arrays on a single silicon-based chip

Multiple trench microdischarge reactor arrays based on a silicon (Si) platform were investigated as a concept to overcome production-based errors. The devices incorporated four sub-arrays of trench-like anisotropically etched cavities on a single 2 cm × 2 cm Si chip. Each sub-array consisted of an equal number of structures of equal length, depth and separation only varying in trench width. Experiments were performed in argon (Ar) close to atmospheric pressure at ac frequencies of the order of 10 kHz. The arrays were characterized by means of electrical measurements and by (phase-resolved) optical emission. It is shown that the whole device as well as the independent sub-arrays and the individual cavities behave in a similar way as the inverted-pyramid structures investigated beforehand. Under identical conditions, the voltage required for a first ignition increases with the width of the cavities. For maximum voltages high enough for operation of all sub-arrays, the individual arrays ignite within the excitation period in reverse order. For different excitation frequencies, self-pulsing and emission waves propagating independently across the sub-arrays were observed. Both phenomena show distinct characteristics for the individual sub-arrays being more prominent for the smaller cavities. The observations are interpreted within the frame of a simple physical picture, as a field and a surface-dependent process and the influence of long-living species such as metastables.

Ignition dynamics of dry-etched vertical cavity single-hole microdischarge reactors in ac regime operating in noble gases

Silicon-based multi-cavity microdischarge reactors allow the generation of large-area uniform glow discharges over a wide pressure range up to atmospheric pressure. These devices, fabricated using micro electro-mechanical system technology, have shown complex interactions between the individual cavities. To discriminate these interactions, devices with only one shallow vertical cavity are studied here. Operation characteristics are investigated using electrical and optical analysing techniques. The spatial and temporal dynamics of the discharge are investigated for positive and negative voltage polarity of the applied ac voltage ramp by phase-resolved imaging. Within each voltage half-period, emission from the single cavity shows repetitive pulsing features and distinct spatial distributions. In the positive half-period, ring-shaped structures develop, while the negative half-period is distinguished by a bell-shaped intensity distribution. Effects of pressure and operation frequency on the spatial and temporal intensity profiles are discussed.

Circular Emission and Destruction Patterns on a Silicon-Based Microdischarge Array

Silicon-based microdischarge arrays are of high interest as they enable nonthermal plasmas at atmospheric pressure. However, due to their small dimensions, they are highly sensitive to instabilities that can lead to the destruction of the confining structures. The damage, in particular of the top dielectric surface of these devices, can be directly correlated with a destructive operation mode. Images present the emission and destruction structures, which both show a circular pattern along the edges of the cavities.