Performance of a large-scale barrier discharge plume improved by an upstream auxiliary barrier discharge

Abstract

Enhanced by an upstream auxiliary dielectric barrier discharge (ADBD), a transverse barrier discharge plume with a fairly large scale is generated downstream of a narrow slit. Electrical and optical characteristics are compared for the two discharges with and without the ADBD. Results indicate that the plume with the ADBD is longer, more uniform, and dissipates a higher power. Moreover, its inception voltage is much lower. High-speed imaging presents that the uniform plasma plume with the ADBD comprises a series of moving micro-discharge filaments in a glow regime, which are much smoother than those without the ADBD.