Investigation of electrokinetic, spectral, and optical characteristics of low-frequency induction discharge of the transformer type.

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Investigation of electrokinetic, spectral, and
optical characteristics of low-frequency
induction discharge of the transformer type.
REC Plasma, Petrazavodsk State University,
Karelia, Russia, Institute of Thermophysics,
Novosibirsk, Siberia, Russia
Proposal Y1-P-13-09

• Content
• 1. Brief review of world researches.
• 2. The goal of present investigation.
• 3. Methodological and technical base.
• 4. Short review of our achievements.
• 5. Main stages, prospective researching results.
• 6. Experimental apparatus.
• 7. Further project development.
  Technical/engineering applications of the results.

Scheme of transformer-coupled induction discharge
(later as TCID)
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1. Brief review of world researches
Investigation of electrokinetic, spectral, and
optical characteristics of low-frequency
induction discharge of the transformer type.
Light source applications
Plasma source applications

• H.U. Eckert, 1971 ? creation and experimental
  study of argon low pressure plasma generator
  suggested basic interrelations between
  geometrical and electromagnetic scales for proper
  operation of the discharge could not ignite a
  stable discharge at atmospheric pressure.
• V.M. Goldfarb, et al., 1979 ? experimental
  study of electric characteristics of the plasma
  generator at low pressure in argon could not
  ignite a stable discharge at atmospheric
  pressure.
• J.J. Gonzalez, A. Shabalin, 2003 ? modeling of
  the temporal variation of voltage and current
  across the sheath and along the chamber in
  conductive and dielectric vessels.
• Our team (Ulanov I.M., Kolmakov K.N., Isupov
  M.V., Litvinsev A. Yu.) since mid-1990s ?
  creation and experimental study of high pressure
  (1-2 atm) induction plasma generator in argon,
  air, nitrogen, oxygen, mixtures of CO2 and
  natural gas studying of NO-synthesis process,
  ozone synthesis and natural gas conversion in
  transformer-coupled induction plasma generator.

J.J. Thomson, 1927 ? one of the first
investigation of RF-excited discharges C.R.
Nisewanger, J.R Holmes and G.L. Weissler, 1941 ?
first using of the RF-discharge as spectroscopic
sources. J.M. Andersen, 1970s ? first
investigation of the transformer-coupled
induction discharge in the mixture of mercury
(3-6 mTorr) and argon (2Torr). R. Piejak, V.
Godyak, and B. Alexandrovich, mid-1990s ?
electric field dependencies for neon, xenon,
argon. Our team (Ulanov I.M., Kolmakov K.N.,
Isupov M.V., Litvinsev A. Yu.), since mid-1990s ?
electric field dependencies, spectral and
photometrical characteristics of neon, argon,
xenon, air, nitrogen, mixture of mercury, and
sulfur.
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2. The goal of present investigation
Investigation of electrokinetic, spectral, and
optical characteristics of low-frequency
induction discharge of the transformer type.

Basic research background Knowledge of external
electrical characteristics of the TCID plasmas,
such as electric field and current distribution
the electron energy distribution function, and
emissive properties depending on gas pressure,
rf power, and driving frequency will allow to
generate a large experimental database suitable
for comparison with the results of ongoing
theoretical and modeling activities and to
recognize some new features in the EEDF and the
electromagnetic field structure of TCID.

• Dependencies of
• electric field strength,
• resonance and nonresonance radiation output,
• concentration and energy of electrons
• as a function of operation frequency, current
  density, a gas pressure, magnitude of external
  magnetic field.

Application background Knowledge of empirical
scaling laws is of paramount importance in
designing a practical TCID devices (gas-discharge
light sources, plasma source and high power gas
ion laser) and is an effective lever to control
and optimize device performance.
Developing of empirical laws and engineering
chart-table of main geometric and technical
parameters as a function of required discharge
characteristics in order to simplify creation
of commercial TCID devices.
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3. Methodological and technical base.
Investigation of electrokinetic, spectral, and
optical characteristics of low-frequency
induction discharge of the transformer type.
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4. Short review of our current achievements.
Investigation of electrokinetic, spectral, and
optical characteristics of low-frequency
induction discharge of the transformer type.
1 New analysis of electrical characteristics and
form-factor of transformer-coupled induction
plasma generator was developed. 2 New
experimental data concerning the electrical field
strength depending on a gas pressure, a
discharge current, a flow-rate, and a
gas-dynamics of flow (vortex or non-vortex flow)
were obtained for some rare gages, air,
nitrogen, hydrogen. It was shown that
dependencies of electrical and optical
characteristics of the transformer-coupled
induction discharge on current density, tube
diameter, and pressure coincide qualitatively
with those of dc discharges. 3 Plasma-chemical
processes such as NO-synthesis, O3-synthesis,
natural gas conversion were studied. It was
shown, the transformer-coupled plasma generator
could be used in plasma-chemical technologies
of NO production and natural gas conversion.
Prototype of such induction plasma generator was
created. 4 Preliminary data concerning emissive
and optical properties of the transformer-coupled
discharge in vapors of mercury, sulfur and
rare gases were obtain. Results of carried out
research have shown the possibilities of
creation of high power (up to 50kW) and high
effective gas-discharge light sources based
on the transformer-coupled discharge.
Prototype of such light sources were created.
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5. Main stages, prospective researching results.
Investigation of electrokinetic, spectral, and
optical characteristics of low-frequency
induction discharge of the transformer type.

• modification of experimental setup
• finding of optimal conditions of electrical
  power input
• transformation into emission power of 580?730
  nm
• spectral range of Ne, VUV radiation of Xe and
  reso-
• nance and non-resonance radiation of cadmium
• discharges
• radial and longitudinal distribution of electric
  field
• strength, concentration and energy of electrons
  
• depending on pressure, frequency of operation,
  and
• current density.

• 1st year
• 1.1. Study of neon discharge in order to develop
  new kind of induction neon light sources.
• 1.2. Study of neon-xenon discharge in order to
  develop Hg-free fluorescent induction light
  sources.
• 1.3. Study of cadmium induction discharge.
• 2nd year
• 2.1. Study of transformer-coupled induction
  discharge
• in vapors of metal iodides.
• 3rd year
• 3.1. Investigation of argon induction
  (pulsed/continual) discharge under external
  magnetic field in order to study the possibility
  of creation high power induction ion lasers.

• electric field distribution, radiation output,
• concentration and energy of electrons
  depending
• on metal iodides pressure (bulb temperature),
• rare gas pressure, frequency of operation,
• current density.

• building/modification of experimental setup
• radial and longitudinal distribution of electric
  
• field strength, laser radiation output,
  concentration and
• energy of electrons depending on argon
  pressure,
• frequency of operation, current density, and
  external
• magnetic field strength.

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6. Experimental apparatus.
Investigation of electrokinetic, spectral, and
optical characteristics of low-frequency
induction discharge of the transformer type.
Available setup
Developed setup
Note Some of experiments will be done under
sealed off discharge chamber
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7. Further project development.
Technical/engineering applications of the
results.
Investigation of electrokinetic, spectral, and
optical characteristics of low-frequency
induction discharge of the transformer type.
Possible further development of project1.
Investigation of plasma-chemical reactions under
conditions of transformer-coupled induction
discharge2. Study of electrical and emissive
properties of CO2 discharge in order to develop
IR induction lasers3. Study of sodium
transformer-coupled induction discharge with the
purpose of designing of high efficiency light
sources.Accumulated scientific and technical
potential could be used in designing of new
devices based on TCID1. Developing of high
power impulse/continue lamps2. Designing of
sodium induction lamps3. Creation of compact,
high power disinfectant devices with unlimited
life time4. Developing of new type of gas
discharge lasers for industrial applications5.
Developing of new type of RF-etching devices for
semiconductor industry applications6. Designing
of plasma-chemical reactors for natural gas
conversion and decomposition/utilization of
wastes.
Neutral filter 1100
Compact high power (500 W) Ne induction lamp
Induction plasma generator (250 000 W)