Atmospheric-pressure hybrid plasma with combination of ac and microwave

A hybrid plasma system with combination of ac and microwave at atmospheric pressure was developed. The hybrid plasma is initiated by ac capillary plasma, is stabilized by a flowing channel of working gas through common electrodes, and is expanded by the dissipation of microwave energy, revealing two distinguishable plasma columns of about 1 m in length and a transition point. The capillary in the hybrid plasma system is working as a common electrode for the microwave and ac plasmas. Optical emission spectroscopy is used to characterize and monitor the argon and nitrogen excited species produced in different plasma columns. (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics.