Production mechanism of atomic nitrogen in atmospheric pressure pulsed corona discharge measured using two-photon absorption laser-induced fluorescence

Abstract

To study the production mechanism of atomic nitrogen, the temporal profile and spatial distribution of atomic nitrogen are measured in atmospheric pressure pulsed positive corona discharge using two-photon absorption laser-induced fluorescence. The absolute atomic nitrogen density in the streamer filaments is estimated from decay rate of atomic nitrogen in N2 discharge. The results indicate that the absolute atomic nitrogen density is approximately constant against discharge energy. When the discharge voltage is 21.5 kV, production yield of atomic nitrogen produced by an N2 discharge pulse is estimated to be 2.9 − 9.8 × 1013 atoms and the energy efficiency of atomic nitrogen production is estimated to be about 1.8 − 6.1 × 1016 atoms/J. The energy efficiency of atomic nitrogen production in N2 discharge is constant against the discharge energy, while that in N2/O2 discharge increases with discharge energy. In the N2/O2 discharge, two-step process of N2 dissociation plays significant role for atomic nitrogen production.