Quantitative characterization of a dielectric barrier discharge in air applying non-calibrated spectrometer, current measurement and numerical simulation

Abstract

A non-calibrated spectrometer is used for quantitative characterization of a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) in air wherein optical emission spectroscopy (OES) is completed by current measurement and numerical simulation. This diagnostic method is applicable when the cross-sectional area of the active plasma volume and the current density can be determined. The nitrogen emission in the spectral range of 330–406 nm is used for OES diagnostics. The electric field in the active plasma volume is determined by applying the measured spectrum, well-known Franck–Condon factors for nitrogen transitions and numerically simulated electron distribution functions. The measured electric current density is used for the determination of electron density in plasma. Using the determined plasma parameters, the dissociation rates of nitrogen and oxygen in active plasma volume are calculated, which can be used for the simulation of chemical kinetics.