Fundamental properties of radiofrequency and microwave surface-wave induced plasmas

Abstract

Some fundamental properties of radiofrequency and microwave surface-wave induced plasmas were determined in the frequency domain from 200 to 2450MHz. Argon and helium plasmas at atmospheric pressure were sustained under various experimental conditions (absorbed power, flow-rate and enclosed or open-air discharges). Excitation temperatures were found to be approximately 2400 K for argon and 3000 K for helium, whereas rotational temperatures (N2 and N2+) were lower (2000 K). Electron densities were in the range 3-4 x lO'4ecm-3 for argon and were a factor of three lower for the helium plasma. Under these operating conditions, frequency proved to have little or no effect on the fundamental parameters measured.

Study of a microwave induced plasma as a universal ion source for inorganic and organic mass spectrometry

“…A value of 1.8 × 10 14 cm −3 was obtained, which is slightly lower than the reported values of 3–4 × 10 14 cm −3 for a radial viewing. 30 The electron density was also shown to vary along the plasma column. 31…”

Design concepts for strip-line microwave spectrochemical sources

“…Various atmospheric-pressure microwave plasma devices have been developed and are currently being used for different purposes in sciences and technology (11)(12)(13)(14)(15), but only two of them, the Beenakker microwave-induced plasma (MIP) (1, 2) and the Surfatron discharges (16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33), are now regularly applied for spectrochemical analysis.…”