Discharging Mode of Atmospheric RF Dielectric Barrier Discharge:An Experimental Study

Herein, we experimentally addressed the discharge modes, including α, γ and filamentary discharge modes, in radio-frequency (13.56 MHz) dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) of argon and/or argon-nitrogen mixture gases at atmospheric pressure.The correlation between the Ⅰ-Ⅴ characteristics and the discharge modes was investigated with intensified charge coupled device and single lens reflex cameras.The results show that the double dielectric barrier Ar-DBD is capable of generating uniform stable glow discharge within the upper power limit, and that the α-to-γ mode transition can be distinctively identified by means of the Ⅰ-Ⅴ curve.Filamentary discharge emerged in single dielectric barrier Ar-DBD and Ar/N₂ DBDs;and the fine structures of the Ⅰ-Ⅴ curve describe well the discharge mode, especially the mode transition.We suggest that the Ⅰ-Ⅴ curve may well describe α-to-γ mode transition and existence of filamentary discharge.