Design and parameter measurements of an atmospheric pressure plasma

Summary form only given, as follows. During the spring of 1997, a team of seniors in the nuclear engineering design course designed and constructed an atmospheric plasma device named PALADIN. The PALADIN uses an inexpensive, low frequency power supply, along with an inexpensive encasement to produce low temperature plasmas in argon and helium at atmospheric pressure. In this paper, the operating parameters and plasma parameters will be presented. Estimates of the plasma parameters of temperature and density are made using optical emission and electrostatic probe measurement techniques.