Weibo Liu

Spatio-temporal dynamics of the white-eye square superlattice pattern in dielectric barrier discharge

We report on the first investigation of the white-eye square superlattice pattern (WESSP) in a dielectric barrier discharge system. The evolution of patterns with increasing voltage is given. A phase diagram of WESSP as functions of gas pressure p and argon concentration is presented. The spatio-temporal dynamics of the WESSP is studied by using an intensified charge-coupled device camera and photomultipliers. Results show that the WESSP consists of four different transient sublattices, whose discharge sequence is small spots—spots on the line—halos—central spots in each half voltage cycle. The discharge moment and position of each sublattice are dependent upon the field of the wall charges produced by all sublattices discharged previously.

Formation mechanism of dot-line square superlattice pattern in dielectric barrier discharge

We investigate the formation mechanism of the dot-line square superlattice pattern (DLSSP) in dielectric barrier discharge. The spatio-temporal structure studied by using the intensified-charge coupled device camera shows that the DLSSP is an interleaving of three different subpatterns in one half voltage cycle. The dot square lattice discharges first and, then, the two kinds of line square lattices, which form square grid structures discharge twice. When the gas pressure is varied, DLSSP can transform from square superlattice pattern (SSP). The spectral line profile method is used to compare the electron densities, which represent the amounts of surface charges qualitatively. It is found that the amount of surface charges accumulated by the first discharge of DLSSP is less than that of SSP, leading to a bigger discharge area of the following discharge (lines of DLSSP instead of halos of SSP). The spatial distribution of the electric field of the surface charges is simulated to explain the formation of DLSSP. This paper may provide a deeper understanding for the formation mechanism of complex superlattice patterns in DBD.

Generation of tunable plasma photonic crystals in meshed dielectric barrier discharge

Tunable superlattice plasma photonic crystals are obtained in a meshed dielectric barrier discharge. These plasma photonic crystals are composed of thin artificial lattices and thick self-organized lattices, and can be tuned easily by adjusting the applied voltage. A plasma photonic crystal with self-organized hexagonal lattice coupled to artificial square lattice is first realized. The dispersion relations of the square sublattices with different radii, which are recorded by an intensified charge-coupled device camera, are calculated. The results show that the thick square sublattice has the higher band edge frequencies and wider band widths. Band gaps of superlattice plasma photonic crystals are actually temporal integrations of those of transient sublattices.

Note: A novel dielectric barrier discharge system for generating stable patterns in wide range

We develop a novel dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) system with a meshed water electrode to generate stable square superlattice patterns (MSSP) in Ar/air mixture in a wide range of experimental environments. Discharge scenarios with the applied voltage increasing in the meshed DBD and ordinary DBD are presented respectively under the same experimental conditions. It is found that a square pattern and MSSP can be obtained stably and easily in meshed DBD, while no pattern emerges in ordinary DBD. MSSP can be formed when the Ar content is from 0% to 70%, and the corresponding applied voltage decreases with Ar content increasing. Results based on optical methods show that MSSP is generated by artificially designed electrodes together with nonlinear characteristics of DBD, which may account for why patterns in meshed DBD exist in a wide range.

Study a compound orthorhombic lattice pattern in dielectric barrier discharge

The compound orthorhombic lattice pattern which is composed of the bright spot and the dim spot is observed for the first time in a dielectric barrier discharge system. It is found that the dim spot is located at the gravity center of the surrounding three bright spots. The discharge bifurcates from a square lattice, hexagon pattern to compound orthorhombic lattice pattern and finally changes to an irregular pattern. The phase diagram of the pattern types as a function of the applied voltage and the argon concentration is given. The spatio-temporal dynamics of the pattern is studied by the time correlation measurement and the high speed video camera images. Results show that the dim spot is formed by both volume discharge and surface discharge induced by the bright spot. The differences of plasma parameters between the bright spots and the dim spots obtained by optical emission spectroscopy verify that the dim spot is formed by both volume discharge and surface discharge. To better understand the mechanis...

Study on moving filaments in honeycomb pattern in dielectric barrier discharge

We report on the study of moving filaments in a honeycomb pattern in a dielectric barrier discharge system using photomultipliers, a high-speed video camera, and a spectrometer. The honeycomb pattern bifurcates from the hexagonal super-lattice pattern with increasing voltage. It is found that the honeycomb framework is composed of filaments with irregular reciprocating motion, which indicates that the honeycomb framework results from statistical self-organization. The spatiotemporal dynamics show that the pattern consists of three different sub-lattices. The plasma parameters (molecular vibrational temperature and electron density) of the pattern, determined from the optical emission spectra, show that different sub-lattices are in different plasma states. Based on these measurements, the mechanism of the movement of filaments is analyzed briefly.

Three-dimensional patterns in dielectric barrier discharge with “H” shaped gas gap

Three-dimensional (3D) patterns are obtained for the first time in dielectric barrier discharge by a special designed device with “H” shaped gas gap which consists of a single gas layer gap and two double gas layer gaps. Three dimensional spatiotemporal characteristics of discharge are investigated by photomultiplier and intensified charge-coupled device camera. Results show that the discharge first generates in the single gas layer gap and the coupled filaments in the double gas layer gap present the simultaneity characteristics. The formation of 3D patterns is determined by the distribution of the effective field of the applied field and the wall charge field.

Pattern formation based on complex coupling mechanism in dielectric barrier discharge

The pattern formation of cinque-dice square superlattice pattern (CDSSP) is investigated based on the complex coupling mechanism in a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) system. The spatio-temporal structure of CDSSP obtained by using an intensified-charge coupled device indicates that CDSSP is an interleaving of two kinds of subpatterns (mixture of rectangle and square, and dot-line square) which discharge twice in one half voltage, respectively. Selected by the complex coupling of two subpatterns, the CDSSP can be formed and shows good stability. This investigation based on gas discharge theory together with nonlinear theory may provide a deeper understanding for the nonlinear characteristics and even the formation mechanism of patterns in DBD.

Cellular Structure Pattern in Dielectric Barrier Discharge

We report the observation of a cellular structure pattern in a dielectric barrier discharge system. The evolution sequence and phase diagram of the pattern are given. It is firstly observed that the “cell nucleus” fire three or even more times at a fixed location at the rising edge of the applied voltage, and that the “cell walls” which have the same discharge times with the “cell nucleus” are ignited slightly after the “cell nucleus”. By observing a series of frames recorded by a high speed video camera, it is found that the cellular structure pattern consists of volume discharges (VDs) and surface discharges (SDs) corresponding to the “cell nucleus” and “cell walls” respectively. That VDs and SDs are ignited in turn for several times in each half cycle of the applied voltage confirms the fact that VDs induce the SDs and SDs also affect the following VDs.

Static Spiral Patterns in a Dielectric Barrier Discharge

Static spiral patterns are observed in a dielectric barrier discharge system. It bifurcates from the concentric-ring pattern with the increase of the applied voltage. The formation of the static spiral patterns is investigated using an intensified-charge coupled device camera. It is found that the discharge filaments are the basic unit of the spiral patterns and they do not occur at the same location during successive half cycles. The uniform spiral arms, as seen with the naked eyes, are formed by the numerous discharge filaments located in different positions during successive acquisition intervals. The correlation coefficient between the discharges of successive half cycles is relatively low and is independent of the delay time between images.