A long plasma column in a flexible tube at atmospheric pressure

Atmospheric-pressure nonthermal plasma produced at a low frequency in a flexible dielectric tube in an argon gas flow is presented. The plasma system consists of a typical injection needle as a hot electrode, a Teflon(R) tube as a dielectric, and a high voltage power supply. The plasma column is stabilized in the Teflon(R) tube by flowing channels of argon gas through an injection needle. The column has a length of approximately 60 cm with 3 lpm of argon, and plasma exists throughout the Teflon(R) tube with an inner diameter of 1.6 mm. The characteristics of the long plasma column are studied by preliminary observations.