Experimental and Theoretical Studies on the Characteristics of Atmospheric Pressure Glow Discharge with Liquid Cathode

Abstract

This study investigated the characteristics of an atmospheric pressure air-glow discharge with a liquid cathode. Distilled water was utilized as the cathode. The electric field strength, gas temperature as well as the emission intensity of some N2(C3Πu → B3Πg) and OH (A2Σ+ → X2Π) bands were measured at a discharge current ranging from 15 to 50 mA. Based upon the data obtained, the reduced electric field strength, E/N, and effective vibrational temperatures for N2(C3Πu, X1Σg+) and OH (A2Σ+) were examined. The electron energy distribution function (EEDF) and some electron parameters (average energy, electron density and rate coefficients) were obtained based on a numerical solution of the Boltzmann kinetic equation. The result showed that the EEDF was not in equilibrium and the effective vibrational temperatures for N2(C3Πu, X1Σg+) were essentially higher than the gas temperatures.