Ambient pressure resistive barrier cold plasma discharge for biological and environmental applications

Summary form only given. We have carried out electrical, chemical, optical, and biological studies on both He and atmospheric air plasma. A microwave absorption method was used for average electron density measurements. The ion measurements were done by collecting the ion current over an interval in time in a capacitor, and measuring the collected charge with a nanometer after the discharge was turned off. This method prevents RF noise from the discharge from jamming the nanometer. The measurements indicated that an ion density of 10/sup 12/ ions per cubic centimeter was present in the discharge. The results of both He and atmospheric air plasma show that the overwhelming production was of ozone. A trace of NO was found. The analysis of optical characteristics shows that the far ultraviolet light production was negligible as compared to that of a 150 Watt mercury arc in a quartz tube. Biological studies have been carried out with samples of XL-1Blue/sup TM/, E. coli and attained promising results.