Authors: Tanvir Farouk, Bakhtier Farouk, David Staack, Alexander Gutsol and Alexander Fridman
Department of Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA

URL: http://www.iop.org/EJ/S/1/NWI770978/VusYpb6wgXJWWrBT4uE7aw/abstract/-ff30=7/0963-0252/15/4/012

Abstract:

A hybrid model was used to simulate a dc argon micro glow-discharge at atmospheric pressure. The simulations were carried out for a pin-plate electrode configuration with inter-electrode gap spacing of 200 µm together with an external circuit. The predicted voltage–current characteristics and current density profiles identify the discharge to be a normal glow-discharge. The neutral gas temperature predictions indicate that the discharge forms a non-thermal, non-equilibrium plasma. Experimental studies were conducted to validate the numerical model. Predictions from the numerical model compare favourably with the experimental measurements.