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    Terahertz quantum-cascade lasers for high-resolution absorption spectroscopy of atoms and ions in plasmas
    (Bristol : IOP Publ., 2023) Lü, X.; Röben, B.; Biermann, K.; Wubs, J.R.; Macherius, U.; Weltmann, K.-D.; van Helden, J.H.; Schrottke, L.; Grahn, H.T.
    We report on terahertz (THz) quantum-cascade lasers (QCLs) based on GaAs/AlAs heterostructures, which exhibit single-mode emission at 3.360, 3.921, and 4.745 THz. These frequencies are in close correspondence to fine-structure transitions of Al atoms, N+ ions, and O atoms, respectively. Due to the low electrical pump power of these THz QCLs, they can be operated in a mechanical cryocooler in continuous-wave mode, while a sufficient intrinsic tuning range of more than 5 GHz is maintained. The single-mode operation and the intrinsic tuning range of these THz QCLs allow for the application of these lasers as radiation sources for high-resolution absorption spectroscopy to determine the absolute densities of Al atoms, N+ ions, and O atoms in plasmas.
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    Terahertz quantum-cascade lasers for high-resolution absorption spectroscopy of atoms and ions in plasmas
    (Bristol : IOP Publ., 2023) Lü, X.; Röben, B.; Biermann, K.; Wubs, J.R.; Macherius, U.; Weltmann, K.-D.; van Helden, J.H.; Schrottke, L.; Grahn, H.T.
    We report on terahertz (THz) quantum-cascade lasers (QCLs) based on GaAs/AlAs heterostructures, which exhibit single-mode emission at 3.360, 3.921, and 4.745 THz. These frequencies are in close correspondence to fine-structure transitions of Al atoms, N+ ions, and O atoms, respectively. Due to the low electrical pump power of these THz QCLs, they can be operated in a mechanical cryocooler in continuous-wave mode, while a sufficient intrinsic tuning range of more than 5 GHz is maintained. The single-mode operation and the intrinsic tuning range of these THz QCLs allow for the application of these lasers as radiation sources for high-resolution absorption spectroscopy to determine the absolute densities of Al atoms, N+ ions, and O atoms in plasmas.
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    Impact of the electrode proximity on the streamer breakdown and development of pulsed dielectric barrier discharges
    (Bristol : IOP Publ., 2022) Wubs, J.R.; Höft, H.; Kettlitz, M.; Becker, M.M.; Weltmann, K.-D.
    The impact of the electrode proximity on the streamer breakdown and development of pulsed-driven dielectric barrier discharges (DBDs) in a single-filament arrangement has been investigated in a gas mixture of 0.1 vol% O2 in N2 at 0.6 bar and 1.0 bar. The gap distance was varied from 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm, and the applied voltage was adapted correspondingly to create comparable breakdown conditions in the gap. The development of the DBDs was recorded by an iCCD and a streak camera system, while fast electrical measurements provided insight into discharge characteristics such as the transferred charge and consumed energy. The results demonstrate that breakdown in a smaller gap is characterised by a slower streamer propagation but a significantly higher acceleration. It can therefore be concluded that the proximity of the cathode has a strong impact on the characteristics of the streamer breakdown. However, after the streamer has crossed the gap, the discharge structure in front of the anode was found to be the same independent of the actual gap distance.
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    Terahertz absorption spectroscopy for measuring atomic oxygen densities in plasmas
    (Bristol : IOP Publ., 2023) Wubs, J.R.; Macherius, U.; Weltmann, K.-D.; Lü, X.; Röben, B.; Biermann, K.; Schrottke, L.; Grahn, H.T.; van Helden, J.H.
    This paper describes the first implementation of terahertz (THz) quantum cascade lasers for high-resolution absorption spectroscopy on plasmas. Absolute densities of ground state atomic oxygen were directly obtained by using the fine structure transition at approximately 4.75 THz. Measurements were performed on a low-pressure capacitively coupled radio frequency oxygen discharge. The detection limit in this arrangement was found to be 2 × 10 13 cm−3, while the measurement accuracy was within 5%, as demonstrated by reference measurements of a well-defined ammonia transition. The results show that the presented method is well suited to measure atomic oxygen densities, and it closes the THz gap for quantitative atomic density measurements in harsh environments such as plasmas.
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    Influence of surface parameters on dielectric-barrier discharges in argon at subatmospheric pressure
    (Bristol : IOP Publ., 2020) Stankov, M.; Becker, M.M.; Bansemer, R.; Weltmann, K.-D.; Loffhagen, D.
    The influence of the secondary electron emission coefficient, γ, and the relative permittivity, ɛr, of the dielectric layers on the characteristics of dielectric-barrier discharges (DBDs) is studied by means of numerical modelling and calculated results are compared with experimental data. The analysis has been performed for a geometrically symmetric, plane-parallel DBD in argon with copper electrodes covered by quartz dielectrics. A time-dependent, spatially one-dimensional fluid model involving the drift-diffusion approximation is applied for the numerical analysis of the DBD operating sinusoidally at a frequency of 24 kHz with applied voltages between 1.8 and 3.4 kV and pressures from 100 to 650 mbar. Main features of the model as well as the experimental setup and procedures are given. The modelling studies show especially the sensitivity of the results on the specific choice of γ and ɛr regarding the occurrence and intensity of discharge peaks, the appearance of one or more smaller peaks after the main peak, as well the establishment of a single periodic, multiperiodic or even chaotic temporal evolution of the DBD. In particular, generally good agreement between measured and calculated discharge current signals and the power dissipated in the discharge is found for γ = 0.02 and ɛr = 4.2.