Experimental data obtained on the TCABR tokamak (R = 0.61 m, a = 0.18 m) with an electrically polarized electrode, placed at r = 0.16 m, is reported in this paper. The experiment was performed with plasma current of 90 kA (q = 3.1) and hydrogen gas injection adjusted for keeping the electron density at 1.0 × 1019 m−3 without bias. Time evolution and radial profiles of plasma parameters with and without bias were measured. The comparison of the profiles shows an increase of the central line-averaged density, up to a maximum factor of 2.6, while Hα hydrogen spectral line intensity decreases and the C III impurity stays on the same level. The analysis of temporal behaviour and radial profiles of plasma parameters indicates that the confined plasma enters the H-mode regime. The data analysis shows a maximum enhanced energy confinement factor of 1.95, decaying to 1.5 at the maximum of the density, in comparison with predicted Neo–Alcator scaling law values. Indications of transient increase of the density gradient near the plasma edge were obtained with measurements of density profiles. Calculations of turbulence and transport at the Scrape-Off-Layer, using measured floating potentials and ion saturation currents, show a strong decrease in the power spectra and transport. Bifurcation was not observed and the decrease in the saturation current occurs in 50 µs.

Non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma jets (APPJs) are capable of generating cold plasma plumes that are not confined by electrodes, which makes them very attractive for bio-medical applications. In the present work, the inactivation efficiency of cold APPJ was evaluated against three pathogenic microorganisms with different cell wall characteristics. The Gram-positive bacterium Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 29212), the Gram-negative bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 15442) and the fungus Candida albicans (SC 5314) were plated on standard Petri dishes filled with specific culture media. The plasma jet with mean power of 1.8 W was directed perpendicularly on agar plates and the system was flushed with pure helium at two different flows, 2.0 and 4.0 SLM. During the treatments, time and distance between nozzle and agar were varied. The presence of excited reactive species was confirmed by optical emission spectroscopy. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was applied for investigation of cell morphology. The microbicidal efficiency was evaluated by measuring the area of inhibition zone (where there was no cell growth). For different flows of helium, no significant difference of inhibition zone size was noted for the same microbial species. However, high flows led to formation of non-homogenous inhibition zones, presenting microcolonies distributed through the inactivated region. The Gram-positive bacterium was more susceptible to the plasma antimicrobial effects than the other microorganisms.

Optical emission spectroscopy as a noninvasive plasma diagnostic was employed to study mode transitions and hysteresis in an inductively coupled plasma in Ar and Ar/ N 2 mixtures. Using selected Ar lines, basic plasma parameters, relevant to the analysis of the mode transitions, were evaluated. Small changes of the electron energy distribution function in the vicinity of the mode transition were detected. The role of metastable Ar atoms in mode transitions and in a hysteresis was clarified. Enhanced production of metastables in the hysteresis region as well as faster transitions in plasmas with higher influence of metastables were observed.

This work proposes an experimental configuration for the generation of a cold atmospheric pressure plasma jet at the downstream end of a long flexible plastic tube. The device consists of a cylindrical dielectric chamber where an insulated metal rod that serves as high-voltage electrode is inserted. The chamber is connected to a long (up to 4 m) commercial flexible plastic tube, equipped with a thin floating Cu wire. The wire penetrates a few mm inside the discharge chamber, passes freely (with no special support) along the plastic tube and terminates a few millimeters before the tube end. The system is flushed with Ar and the dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) is ignited inside the dielectric chamber by a low frequency ac power supply. The gas flow is guided by the plastic tube while the metal wire, when in contact with the plasma inside the DBD reactor, acquires plasma potential. There is no discharge inside the plastic tube, however an Ar plasma jet can be extracted from the downstream tube end. The jet obtained by this method is cold enough to be put in direct contact with human skin without an electric shock. Therefore, by using this approach an Ar plasma jet can be generated at the tip of a long plastic tube far from the high-voltage discharge region, which provides the safe operation conditions and device flexibility required for medical treatment.

Recently, cold atmospheric plasmas have demonstrated very promising antimicrobial activity in vitro and in vivo including selective destruction of tumor cells. However, the size and the rigidity of most plasma systems limit the clinical application for treatments in internal organs or regions with difficult access (e.g., mouth). Here, we report a device that allows ignition of cold He plasma jet at the tip of 1 m long, 3.5 mm diameter, flexible plastic tube. It is connected to a dielectric enclosure where dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) is generated by a low‐frequency AC power supply. A thin wire at floating potential put inside the plastic tube assists the formation of plasma jet at the downstream tube end. The flexible tube can be kept and manipulated by hand without electric shock and thus the plasma jet can be easily directed to a target. Variation of duty cycle of the applied voltage signal allows precise adjustment of the discharge power. The anti‐microbial efficiency of plasma jet system with flexible tube was tested against fungus Candida albicans seeded on agar.