Plasma Ramparts Using Metastable Molecules

Abstract : The main goals of this experimental and theoretical project were to demonstrate the ability to create a uniform and diffuse nonequilibrium air plasma at atmospheric pressure, with an electron density of 10(13) cm(-3), a temperature below 2000 K, scalable to cubic meter size, with a low power budget. The Ohio State Consortium was focusing on use of efficient ionization sources, specifically e-beams and short pulse ionization wave generators, and on mitigation of electron removal by using laser energy addition to excite the vibrational modes of the air species. By this means, the power budget to sustain a stable plasma in low temperature, atmospheric pressure air is significantly reduced.The plasma decay time has been increased by more than two orders of magnitude. In addition, there have been major efforts to investigate the relevant ionization, electron removal, and energy transfer processes in such air plasmas, to model and analyze both e-beam and short pulse ionization sources in large volume air plasmas, to develop short pulse ionization wave generators, and to develop and employ advanced diagnostic methods to characterize the air plasmas produced. There have been major positive and novel results achieved in each of these areas.