Hyperthermal hydrogen atoms in argon-hydrogen atmospheric pressure microplasma jet

Abstract

An argon-hydrogen atmospheric pressure microplasma jet was constructed for the treatment of materials. The microplasma jet device operating at 50 W produced long plasma jet of 30 mm with gas temperatures measured, using OH emissions, from 1600 to 2600 K as a function of distance. Excitation temperature was found to be from 7000 to 10 000 K. Through the analysis of Hα line broadening mechanisms, surprising hot hydrogen atoms H (n=3) were found with temperatures ranging from 12 000 to 19 600 K.