Rotational temperature measurements in atmospheric pulsed dielectric barrier discharge - gas temperature and molecular fraction effects

This study was dedicated to the correlation between the rotational temperat ure and the plasma gas temperature in a non-thermal atmospheric plasma obta ined by a dielectric barrier discharge. Different parameters were modified (e.g. gas temperature, molecular fraction) in argon water gas mixtures. The rotational temperature of OH(A) was spectroscopically measured. It is show n that in mixtures mainly composed of atomic species, namely rare gases, th e OH(A) rotational temperature is strongly correlated with a gas temperatur e streamer. In mixed (atomic and molecular) plasmas it seems that the rotat ional temperature can constitute an approach to the translational energy of heavy particles in the streamer areas.