Characteristics of parallel-plate and planar-surface dielectric barrier discharge at atmospheric pressure

Experiments are performed to investigate and compare the characteristics of stable parallel-plate and planar-surface dielectric barrier discharge in helium gas at atmospheric pressure. The evolution of applied electric field profile and the discharge initiation processes are found quite different for both electrode geometries. Further discharge voltage, discharge current, power densities etc. are compared. The differences of basic plasma properties are presented for both the electrode configurations.