S Ghorui

Experimental evidence of chaotic behavior in atmospheric pressure arc discharge

In free burning as well as in stabilized arc columns, the inherent movement of arc root results in fluctuation in arc voltage. A full knowledge and control over the arc root dynamics can effectively lengthen the life time, drastically improve performance and reliability in arc plasma devices. In this paper, we experimentally investigate the fluctuating voltage signals generated from an atmospheric pressure arc discharge produced in a hollow electrode plasma torch. For the first time, analysis of these signals reveal them to exhibit chaotic behavior. The present analysis is supported with real time behavior, phase portraits, power spectra and Lyapunov exponents. Dependence of system behavior on various control parameters is also investigated. This approach is interesting in the sense that it can lead to better understanding of physics for future researches on arc plasma jets and related devices.

Synthesis and characterization of Nd2O3 nanoparticles in a radiofrequency thermal plasma reactor

The synthesis of nanocrystalline Nd2O3 through an inductively coupled radiofrequency thermal plasma route is reported. Unlike in conventional synthesis processes, plasma-synthesized nanoparticles are directly obtained in a stable hexagonal crystal structure with a faceted morphology. The synthesized nanoparticles are highly uniform with an average size around 20 nm. The nanoparticles are characterized in terms of phase formation, crystallinity, morphology, size distribution, nature of chemical bonds and post-synthesis environmental effects using standard characterization techniques. X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy are used for structural and morphological studies. The thermo-gravimetric technique, using a differential scanning calorimeter, is used to investigate the purity of phase. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy is used to investigate the nature of existing bonds. The optical response of the nanoparticles is investigated through the electronic transition of Nd(3+) ions in its crystalline structure via UV-visible spectroscopy. The presence of defect states and corresponding activation energies in the nanocrystalline Nd2O3 compared to those of the precursors are studied using thermoluminescence.

Theory of dynamic behavior in atmospheric pressure arc plasma devices. I. Theory and system behavior

Fluctuations in atmospheric pressure arc plasma devices play important role in plasma processing applications. A full knowledge and control over such fluctuations can effectively lengthen lifetime and drastically improve performance and reliability. Dynamical analyses of associated experimental fluctuating signals established existence of chaotic dynamics in such devices. However, the origin of such fluctuations remained unexplained so far and no theoretical investigation is carried out to explore underlying physics behind such phenomena. This work addresses development of a general theory for such fluctuations in atmospheric pressure arc plasma devices in terms of various nondimensional parameters using basic governing equations and presents the result of application of the theory to various important experiments reported in literature. Various aspects of dynamic behavior have been investigated through the study of coefficients appearing in the nonlinear amplitude equation. It has been shown that the theory supports arc current and gas flow rate as the major externally available controlling parameters in agreement with experiment. Theory exhibits period doubling route to chaos under variation of control parameter as observed experimentally. System includes catastrophic behavior for some operating range. The whole work is divided into two parts. This paper presents part I: development of theory for such fluctuations using basic equations of the dynamics and study of system behavior.

Direct probing of anode arc root dynamics and voltage instability in a dc non-transferred arc plasma jet

The transient dynamics of the anode arc root in a dc non-transferred arc plasma torch is captured through fast photography and directly correlated with the associated voltage instability for the first time. The coexistence of multiple arc roots, the transition to a single arc root, root formation and extinction are investigated for the steady, takeover and re-strike modes of the arc. Contrary to the usual concept, the emerging plasma jet of a dc non-transferred arc plasma torch is found to carry current. An unusually long self-propelled arc plasma jet, a consequence of the phenomenon, is demonstrated.

Synthesis of nanocrystalline Y2O3 in a specially designed atmospheric pressure radio frequency thermal plasma reactor

Synthesis of yttrium oxide nanoparticles in a specially designed radio frequency thermal plasma reactor is reported. Good crystallinity, narrow size distribution, low defect state concentration, high purity, good production rate, single-step synthesis, and simultaneous formation of nanocrystalline monoclinic and cubic phases are some of the interesting features observed. Synthesized particles are characterized through X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermo-luminescence (TL), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area analysis. Polymorphism of the nanocrystalline yttria is addressed in detail. Synthesis mechanism is explored through in-situ emission spectroscopy. Post-synthesis environmental effects and possible methods to eliminate the undesired phases are probed. Defect states are investigated through the study of TL spectra.

Characteristics of Synthesized Alumina Nanoparticles in a High-Pressure Radio Frequency Thermal Plasma Reactor

Nanophase alumina is synthesized in an atmospheric pressure radio frequency (RF) plasma reactor through melting, evaporation, and vapor phase nucleation technique. A specially designed high-pressure RF plasma reactor fitted with an indigenously built RF plasma torch converts commercially available micrometer size alumina chunks into spherical nanophase alumina in a single step under ambient quenching conditions without use of any additional quenching gas. Obtained powder contains mixed phases of α and δ -alumina as revealed by X-ray diffraction studies. Transmission Electron Microscopy analyses exhibit very small particle size (peak at 15 nm), narrow size distribution (half width ~ 24 nm), zero agglomeration, and good crystallinity. Obtained particle characteristics together with the high purity owing to inherent electrode-less feature of the RF discharge are suitable for important technological applications including fabrication of high-power ceramic laser gain media like Y3Al5O12 (YAG) from composites of Al2O3 and Y2O3. Characteristics of the synthesized alumina are compared with that of nanoalumina synthesized in atmospheric arcs.

Axial evolution of radial heat flux profiles transmitted by atmospheric pressure nitrogen and argon arcs

Axial evolutions of radial heat flux profiles in argon and nitrogen plasma jets from an atmospheric pressure dc non-transferred arc plasma torch are determined using a double calorimetric technique. Results are presented for power levels suitable for the processing of high temperature ceramic oxides, where the heat flux data reported in the literature is rare. Variations of the profile widths and profile maxima are presented as a function of axial distance as well as power. Relatively uniform profile width over prolonged axial distance for nitrogen plasma compared to argon is an important observation which has the potential to offer a much longer dwell time of the injected particles inside the plasma, avoiding the problem of unmelts, especially for ceramics. A comparative study of the heat flux profiles for argon and nitrogen plasma is presented. The obtained results are compared with the data reported in literature.

A dc arc plasma torch as a tailored heat source for thermohydraulic simulation of proton beam–target interaction in ADSS

Currently, research on accelerator driven subcritical systems (ADSS) is gaining significance due to their high safety levels and extremely attractive potential in terms of both thorium utilization and nuclear waste transmutation. While high energy and high current proton beams are being built worldwide, intensive efforts are being undertaken in parallel towards the development of complex lead bismuth eutectic target systems. The major focus is directed towards understanding of the material compatibility and detailed thermohydraulic simulation of the liquid metal flow. The requisite heat flux is being deposited using innovative and easily controllable heat sources. This paper presents an experimental and simulation study to explore the potential of using dc arc plasma torches as a tailored heat source for thermohydraulic simulation of proton beam–target interaction in such systems.

Diagnostics of microwave assisted electron cyclotron resonance plasma source for surface modification of nylon 6

Looking at the increasing scope of plasma processing of materials surface, here we present the development and diagnostics of a microwave assisted Electron Cyclotron Resonance (ECR) plasma system suitable for surface modification of polymers. Prior to the surface-treatment, a detailed diagnostic mapping of the plasma parameters throughout the reactor chamber was carried out by using single and double Langmuir probe measurements in Ar plasma. Conventional analysis of I-V curves as well as the elucidation form of the Electron Energy Distribution Function (EEDF) has become the source of calibration of plasma parameters in the reaction chamber. The high energy tail in the EEDF of electron temperature is seen to extend beyond 60 eV, at much larger distances from the ECR zone. This proves the suitability of the rector for plasma processing, since the electron energy is much beyond the threshold energy of bond breaking in most of the polymers. Nylon 6 is used as a representative candidate for surface processing in the presence of Ar, H2 + N2, and O2 plasma, treated at different locations inside the plasma chamber. In a typical case, the work of adhesion is seen to almost get doubled when treated with oxygen plasma. Morphology of the plasma treated surface and its hydrophilicity are discussed in view of the variation in electron density and electron temperature at these locations. Nano-protrusions arising from plasma treatment are set to be responsible for the hydrophobicity. Chemical sputtering and physical sputtering are seen to influence the surface morphology on account of sufficient electron energies and increased plasma potential.

Neutral-neutral and neutral-ion collision integrals for Y2O3-Ar plasma system

A detailed investigation on the neutral-neutral and neutral-ion collision integrals is reported for Y2O3-Ar plasma, an important system of functional material with unique properties having a wide range of processing applications. The calculated integrals are indispensible pre-requisite for the estimation of transport properties needed in CFD modelling of associated plasma processes. Polarizability plays an important role in determining the integral values. Ambiguity in selecting appropriate polarizability data available in the literature and calculating effective number of electrons in the ionized species contributing to the polarizability are addressed. The integrals are evaluated using Lennard-Jones like phenomenological potential up to (l,s) = (4,4). Used interaction potential is suitable for both neutral-neutral and neutral-ion interactions. For atom-parent ion interactions, contribution coming from the inelastic resonant charge transfer process has been accounted properly together with that coming fr...