New microwave source of microdischarges in noble gases at atmospheric pressure

In this paper we present a simple and cheap microwave (2.45 GHz) source of microdischarges in argon or neon at atmospheric pressure. The source consisted of a cheap 2.45 GHz microwave magnetron generator and 50 Omega coaxial line terminated with a simple coaxial plasma applicator. The new microwave source of microdischarges operated stable in the form of a small plasma jet at absorbed microwave powers of 9 80 W and gas flow rates of 0.5 divided by 25 l/min. The length and diameter of plasma jets were 1.5 divided by 14 mm and 0.5 divided by 1.5 mm, respectively, depending on the kind of gas, gas flow rate and microwave power absorbed by the discharge. The temperature of the plasma jets could be changed from 30 degrees C to 1200 degrees C by changing the gas flow rate or/and absorbed microwave power. The electron density in the plasma jet was around (0.3 divided by 1.1) x 10(15) cm(-3), depending on the discharge conditions.