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- ItemThe effect of oxygen admixture on the properties of microwave generated plasma in Ar-O2: A modelling study(Bristol : IOP Publ., 2021) Baeva, M; Stankov, M; Trautvetter, T; Methling, R; Hempel, F; Loffhagen, D; Foest, RThis work presents results of a self-consistent modelling analysis on microwave plasma generated in Ar-O2 mixtures at a frequency of 2.45 GHz at atmospheric pressure. The study focuses on how the plasma properties are influenced by the increase of the oxygen fraction in the gas mixture. The oxygen admixture is increased from 1% up to 95% in mass for values of the input microwave power of 1 and 1.5 kW. The results show that for a power of 1 kW and gradually increasing the oxygen admixture from 1% to 25% the electron density drops by a factor of more than four due to the energy lost by the electrons due to dissociation of oxygen molecules and the gas heating. An analysis of the number densities of species produced in the Ar-O2 plasma is presented. Oxygen admixtures of above 50% are considered along with an increase of the input microwave power in order to supply the discharge with electron number density values of the order of 1019 m-3. Gas temperatures above 3700 K are obtained in the plasma core along with a strong production of oxygen atoms with a number density of the order of 1023 m-3.
- ItemElectric field determination in transient plasmas: in situ & non-invasive methods(Bristol : IOP Publ., 2022) Goldberg, Benjamin M.; Hoder, Tomáš; Brandenburg, RonnyOne of the primary basic plasma parameters within transient nonequilibrium plasmas is the reduced electric field strength, roughly understood as the ratio of the electrical energy given to the charged species between two collisions. While physical probes have historically been used for electric field measurements, recent advances in high intensity lasers and sensitive detection methods have allowed for non-invasive optical electric field determination in nearly any discharge configuration with time-resolution up to the sub-nanosecond range and sub-millimeter spatial resolution. This topical review serves to highlight several non-invasive methods for in situ electric field strength determination in transient plasmas ranging from high vacuum environments to atmospheric pressure and above. We will discuss the advantages and proper implementation of (i) laser induced fluorescence dip spectroscopy for measurements in low pressure RF discharges, (ii) optical emission spectroscopy based methods for nitrogen, helium or hydrogen containing discharges, (iii) electric field induced coherent Raman scattering, and (iv) electric field induced second harmonic generation. The physical mechanism for each method will be described as well as basic implementation and highlighting recent results.
- ItemFoundations of plasma standards(Bristol : IOP Publ., 2023) Alves, Luís L.; Becker, Markus M.; van Dijk, Jan; Gans, Timo; Go, David B.; Stapelmann, Katharina; Tennyson, Jonathan; Turner, Miles M.; Kushner, Mark J.The field of low-temperature plasmas (LTPs) excels by virtue of its broad intellectual diversity, interdisciplinarity and range of applications. This great diversity also challenges researchers in communicating the outcomes of their investigations, as common practices and expectations for reporting vary widely in the many disciplines that either fall under the LTP umbrella or interact closely with LTP topics. These challenges encompass comparing measurements made in different laboratories, exchanging and sharing computer models, enabling reproducibility in experiments and computations using traceable and transparent methods and data, establishing metrics for reliability, and in translating fundamental findings to practice. In this paper, we address these challenges from the perspective of LTP standards for measurements, diagnostics, computations, reporting and plasma sources. This discussion on standards, or recommended best practices, and in some cases suggestions for standards or best practices, has the goal of improving communication, reproducibility and transparency within the LTP field and fields allied with LTPs. This discussion also acknowledges that standards and best practices, either recommended or at some point enforced, are ultimately a matter of judgment. These standards and recommended practices should not limit innovation nor prevent research breakthroughs from having real-time impact. Ultimately, the goal of our research community is to advance the entire LTP field and the many applications it touches through a shared set of expectations.
- ItemImpact 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.
- ItemExtended reaction kinetics model for non-thermal argon plasmas and its test against experimental data(Bristol : IOP Publ., 2022) Stankov, M.; Becker, M.M.; Hoder, T.; Loffhagen, D.An extended reaction kinetics model (RKM) suitable for the analysis of weakly ionised, non-thermal argon plasmas with gas temperatures around 300 K at sub-atmospheric and atmospheric pressures is presented. It considers 23 different species including electrons as well as the ground state atom, an atomic and molecular ion, four excited molecular states, and 15 excited atomic states of argon, where all individual 1s and 2p states (in Paschen notation) are included as a separate species. This 23-species RKM involves 409 collision processes and radiative transitions and recent electron collision cross section data. It is evaluated by means of results of time- and space-dependent fluid modelling of argon discharges and their comparison with measured data for two different dielectric barrier discharge configurations as well as a micro-scaled atmospheric-pressure plasma jet setup. The results are also compared with those obtained by use of a previously established 15-species RKM involving only the two lumped 2p states 2p10…5 and 2´p4 … 1. It is found that the 23-species RKM shows generally better agreement with experimental data and provides more options for direct comparison with measurements than the frequently used 15-species RKM.
- ItemVerified modeling of a low pressure hydrogen plasma generated by electron cyclotron resonance(Bristol : IOP Publ., 2022) Sigeneger, F.; Ellis, J.; Harhausen, J.; Lang, N.; van Helden, J.H.A self-consistent fluid model has been successfully developed and employed to model an electron cyclotron resonance driven hydrogen plasma at low pressure. This model has enabled key insights to be made on the mutual interaction of microwave propagation, power density, plasma generation, and species transport at conditions where the critical plasma density is exceeded. The model has been verified by two experimental methods. Good agreement with the ion current density and floating potential—as measured by a retarding energy field analyzer—and excellent agreement with the atomic hydrogen density—as measured by two-photon absorption laser induced fluorescence—enables a high level of confidence in the validity of the simulation.
- ItemHydrogen peroxide production of underwater nanosecond-pulsed streamer discharges with respect to pulse parameters and associated discharge characteristics(Bristol : IOP Publ., 2022) Rataj, Raphael; Werneburg, Matthias; Below, Harald; Kolb, Juergen F.Abstract Pulsed streamer discharges submerged in water have demonstrated potential in a number of applications. Especially the generation of discharges by short high-voltage pulses in the nanosecond range has been found to offer advantages with respect to efficacies and efficiencies. The exploited plasma chemistry generally relies on the initial production of short-lived species, e.g. hydroxyl radicals. Since the diagnostic of these transient species is not readily possible, a quantification of hydrogen peroxide provides an adequate assessment of underlying reactions. These conceivably depend on the characteristics of the high-voltage pulses, such as pulse duration, pulse amplitude, as well as pulse steepness. A novel electrochemical flow-injection system was used to relate these parameters to hydrogen peroxide concentrations. Accordingly, the accumulated hydrogen peroxide production for streamer discharges ignited in deionized water was investigated for pulse durations of 100 ns and 300 ns, pulse amplitudes between 54 kV and 64 kV, and pulse rise times from 16 ns to 31 ns. An independent control of the individual pulse parameters was enabled by providing the high-voltage pulses with a Blumlein line. Applied voltage, discharge current, optical light emission and time-integrated images were recorded for each individual discharge to determine dissipated energy, inception statistic, discharge expansion and the lifetime of a discharge. Pulse steepness did not affect the hydrogen peroxide production rate, but an increase in amplitude of 10 kV for 100 ns pulses nearly doubled the rate to (0.19 ± 0.01) mol l−1 s−1, which was overall the highest determined rate. The energy efficiency did not change with pulse amplitude, but was sensitive to pulse duration. Notably, production rate and efficiency doubled when the pulse duration decreased from 300 ns to 100 ns, resulting in the best peroxide production efficiency of (9.2 ± 0.9) g kWh−1. The detailed analysis revealed that the hydrogen peroxide production rate could be described by the energy dissipation in a representative single streamer. The production efficiency was affected by the corresponding discharge volume, which was comprised by the collective volume of all filaments. Hence, dissipating more energy in a filament resulted in an increased production rate, while increasing the relative volume of the discharge compared to its propagation time increased the energy efficiency.
- ItemCombined toxicity of indirubins with cold physical plasma in skin cancer cells in vitro(Bristol : IOP Publ., 2022) Berner, Julia; Bekeschus, SanderCold physical plasma is a partially ionized gas that generates various components identified as potential anticancer compounds. Due to its topical application, cold plasmas are suitable, especially in dermatological applications. We, therefore, tested the cold plasma effects in skin cancer cells in vitro. An atmospheric pressure argon plasma jet was used as the plasma source. The plasma exposure alone reduced the metabolic activity and induced lethal effects in a treatment time-dependent fashion in both cell lines investigated. This was accompanied by executioner caspases 3 and 7, cleavage indicative of apoptosis and reduced cell migration and proliferation. Recent research also indicated roles of novel indirubin derivatives with potent anticancer effects. Three candidates were tested, and reduced metabolic activity and viability in a dose-dependent manner were found. Strikingly, one compound exerted notable synergistic toxicity when combined with plasma in skin cancer cells, which may be promising for future in vivo experiments.
- ItemModelling and experimental evidence of the cathode erosion in a plasma spray torch(Bristol : IOP Publ., 2022) Baeva, M.; Benilov, M.S.; Zhu, T.; Testrich, H.; Kewitz, T.; Foest, R.The lifetime of tungsten cathodes used in plasma spray torches is limited by processes leading to a loss of cathode material. It was reported in the literature that the mechanism of their erosion is the evaporation. A model of the ionization layer of a cathode is developed to study the diffusive transport of evaporated tungsten atoms and tungsten ions produced due to ionization by electron impact in a background argon plasma. It is shown that the Stefan-Maxwell equations do not reduce to Fick law as one could expect for the transport of diluted species, which is due to significant diffusion velocities of argon ions. The ionization of tungsten atoms occurs in a distance of a few micrometers from the cathode surface and leads to a strong sink, which increases the net flux of tungsten atoms far beyond that obtained in absence of tungsten ions. This shows that the tungsten ions are driven by the electric field towards the cathode resulting in no net diffusive flux and no removal of tungsten species from the ionization layer even if convection is accounted for. A possible mechanism of removal is found by extending the model to comprise an anode. The extended model resolves the inter-electrode region and provides the plasma parameters for a current density corresponding to the value at the center of the cathode under typical arc currents of 600 A and 800 A. The presence of the anode causes a reversal of the electric field on the anode side, which pulls the ions away from the ionization layer of the cathode. The net flux of tungsten ions can be further fortified by convection. This model allows one to evaluate the loss of cathode material under realistic operating conditions in a quantitative agreement with measured values.
- ItemPlasma, cancer, immunity(Bristol : IOP Publ., 2022) Bekeschus, Sander; Clemen, RamonaAlbeit heavily investigated for several decades already, the importance of the immune system in targeting cancer has received wide clinical attention only in recent years. This is partly because of long-standing rather traditional concepts on tumor biology on the one hand and the complexity of the immune system and its processes on the other. The viewpoint of evaluating existing and emerging approaches in oncology based on toxicity to tumors and the ability to engage antitumor-immunity is gaining ground across several disciplines. Along those lines, cold physical plasma was suggested as potential anticancer tool more than a decade ago, but solid evidence of the immune system playing a role in plasma cancer treatment only emerged in recent years. Moreover, plasma may support cancer immunotherapies in the future. Cancer immunotherapies are systemic treatments with biologicals that were reported to synergize with existing local physical modalities before, such as radiotherapy and photodynamic therapy. This review outlines key concepts in oncology, immunology, and tumor therapy, links them to plasma research, and discusses immuno-oncological consequences. Finally, promising future clinical applications are summarized. Synoptically, first scientific evidence supports an immuno-oncological dimension of plasma cancer treatment in selected instances, but robust clinical evidence is still lacking. More basic and clinical research is needed to determine the immuno-molecular mechanisms and detailed plasma application modalities to facilitate real patient benefit in the long term.
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