Temporal evolution of dielectric barrier discharge microplasma

Analysis of dielectric barrier discharge microplasma at atmospheric pressure was carried out using emission spectroscopy and imaging techniques. Temporal evolution of the discharge and also its filamentary mode was observed for the discharge in 3% N-2 in Ar at the microdischarge level. Light emission from microplasma observed with the fast intensified charge coupled device (ICCD) camera for imaging was correlated with the evolution of the discharge current. The highest intensity of light emission occurred at the peak of the discharge current. The evolution of the discharge showed streamer reaching cathode, cathode layer formation, cathode layer enhancement, and cathode layer decay. Measurements of the Ar I peak at 696.5 nm and N-2 second positive band system (N-2 SPS) peak at 337.1 nm with the ICCD camera and spectrometer at various times corresponding to the discharge current showed similar time evolution as observed with the ICCD camera for imaging. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4749825]