[Investigation on the spectrum of complex self-organized plasma photonic crystal].

A complex plasma photonic crystal (PPC) was obtained by self-organization of filaments in air dielectric barrier discharge using two planar water electrodes. The PPC structure consists of many square sublattices, and each sublattice is composed of large spots, two kinds of small spots and lines, corresponding to thick plasma columns, two kinds of thin plasma columns, and plasma slices, respectively. By using the optical emission spectrum method, the electron densities and molecular vibration temperatures at different positions of the PPC were studied. The electron densities were compared by comparing the broadenings of Ar I (2P2-->1S5) spectrum line, and the molecular vibration temperatures were calculated by the spectrum line of nitrogen band of second positive system (C3Πu-->B3Πg) . It was found that the electron densities and molecular vibration temperatures at different positions are both different, showing that the plasma states at different positions are different. The descending order of the electron density is: thin plasma columns around the thick plasma columns, thick plasma columns, plasma slices, and thin plasma columns at junction of plasma slices. The descending order of the molecular vibration temperature is: thin plasma columns at junction of plasma slices, plasma slices, thick plasma columns, and thin plasma columns around the thick plasma columns, which is opposite to that of the electron density. So, the electron densities and the molecular vibration temperatures in different positions of the PPC show the opposite changing trend. As the refractive index of plasma is dependent upon the electron density, the thick plasma columns, two kinds of thin plasma columns and plasma slices in this PPC have different refractive indexes. Together with the surrounding area where no discharges occur, in which the refractive index is also different from the discharging areas, the complex PPC can be seen as a self-organized periodic structure with five different refractive indexes. The PPC has the advantages of being obtained easily, having structural diversity, and being analyzed simply, which may lead to wide applications in many scientific and technical areas.

[Discharge characteristic and spectrum measurement of a new type of single filament in a dielectric barrier discharge].

A new type of single filament was observed in a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) system for the first time. It was formed with a larger discharge gap (d=3. 8 mm) and a smaller discharge area (S= 1 cm x 1 cm) in an air/argon gas mixture. Compared with the single filament observed by other experimental groups, the new type of single filament is composed of volume discharge (VD) and surface discharge (SD). In addition, the single filament has excellent discharge stability and sustainability. In order to study more about the discharge characteristic of the new type of single filament in a half-cycle of the applied voltage and the plasma state in different positions of the discharge column in the side view of the new type of single filament, both a high speed framing camera (HSFC) and a spectrograph were used in the experiment. The instantaneous images of end and side view of the new type of single filament were taken by the HSFC with different exposure time, and the discharge characteristic of the new type of single filament in a half-cycle of the applied voltage was compared with that of glow discharge. The spectral lines of Ar I 763. 26 nm (2P6-->1S5) and Ar I 772.13 nm (2P2-->IS3) in different positions of the discharge column of the new type of single filament were measured by using optical emission spectra, and chosen to estimate the corresponding electron excitation temperature by the relative intensity ratio method. It was found that the new type of single filament is composed of VD and SD, and SD produces a dendritic discharge around VD. The discharge characteristic of the new type of single filament in a half-cycle of the applied voltage is similar to that of glow discharge, and a funnel-shaped discharge emerges at the instantaneous cathode. The spectral line intensity and the corresponding electron excitation temperature all decrease with the distance away from the electrodes, indicating that the plasma state in different positions of the discharge column in the side view of the new type of single filament is different.

[Investigation of plasma parameters of the square pattern with two kinds of spatiotemporal symmetry in dielectric barrier discharge].

Two kinds of square patterns with different spatiotemporal symmetry were observed in dielectric barrier discharge, and their plasma parameters were measured by using optical emission spectra. It was found that the spatiotemporal symmetry of the square pattern at lower gas pressure is different from the one at higher gas pressure. Six spectral lines in the emission spectrum of the N2 second positive band were chosen to estimate the vibrational temperature, and the ratio of I391.4/I394.1 was used to represent the average electron energy. The excitation temperature was determined by the ratio of I763.2/I772.1. Furthermore, the width and shift of Ar I 696.54 nm were used to estimate the electron density. The results show that the vibrational temperature, excitation temperature and electron energy of the square pattern at lower gas pressure are higher than those at higher gas pressure, while the electron density is lower than that at higher gas pressure.

[Study on spectral line profile of volume discharge and surface discharge in dielectric barrier discharge].

The volume discharge (VD) and surface discharge (SD) were observed in dielectric barrier discharge with a relatively large discharge gap simultaneously by using a high-speed camera. The variations of the spectral line profiles of VD and SD as a function of the discharge parameters were studied by using optical emission spectra. The changes in the width and shift of Ar I (2P2-->1S5) spectral lines of VD and SD with gas pressure and discharge gap were measured in dielectric barrier discharge in argon. It was found that both the width and shift of SD are bigger than those of VD, indicating that the electron density of SD is higher than that of VD. The width and shift of VD and SD increase with the gas pressure increasing, indicating that the electron density of VD and SD increases with the gas pressure increasing. The width of VD and SD increases with the gas gap d increasing from 3. 8 to 4. 4 mm, reflecting that the electron density of VD and SD increases with d increasing.

[Influence of pressure on plasma temperature of octagon structure in dielectric barrier discharge].

Octagon structure consisting of the spots and lines was firstly observed in discharge in argon and air mixture by using a dielectric barrier discharge device with water electrodes. Plasma temperatures of the spots and lines in octagon structure at different gas pressure were studied by using optical emission spectra. The emission spectra of the N2 second positive band (C3IIu-->B3IIg)were measured, and the molecule vibrational temperatures of the spots and lines were calculated by the emission intensities. Based on the relative intensity of the line at 391.4 nm and the N2 line at 394.1 nm, the average electron energy of the spots and lines were investigated. The spectral lines of Ar I 763.26 nm ((2)P6-1Ss) and 772.13 nm ((2)P2-->1S3) were chosen to estimate electron excitation temperature of the spots and lines by the relative intensity ratio method. The molecule vibrational temperature, average electron energy, and electron excitation temperature of the lines are higher than those of the spots at the same pressure. The molecule vibrational temperature, average electron energy, and electron excitation temperature of the spots and lines decrease with pressure increasing from 40 to 60 kPa.

[Study on stable process of hexagon pattern in dielectric barrier discharge by optical emission spectra].

The effect of plasma parameters and excited states on the stable process of the hexagon pattern in a dielectric barrier discharge was studied by using optical emission spectra. It was found that the diameter of the discharge filament increases, the pattern gets more stable, and the color of the pattern changes from purple to gray with the increase in the voltage in dielectric barrier discharge in argon and air mixture. It indicates that the plasma excited states and parameters may be changed. To this end, the relative intensity of N2 and Ar spectral lines with respect to Ar I 763.51 nm, the molecular vibration temperature, and the electron excitation temperature were measured with the change in the applied voltage. The results show that the relative intensity of N2 spectral lines decreases and that of Ar spectral lines increases with the increase in the voltage. And both the molecular vibration temperature and the electron excitation temperature increase. These phenomena indicate that the electron energy increases with the increase in the voltage. The increase of the stimulated argon atoms excited by higher energy electron leads to the increase in the diameters of the discharge filaments. Correspondingly, the areas of the wall charges deposited on the dielectric increase, which results in the enhancement of the interactions between filaments, and therefore the hexagon pattern becomes stable.