Interactions between atmospheric pressure plasma jets

Cold atmospheric pressure plasmas offer a unique environment for treatments of soft materials. Here we investigate the possibility of exploiting the interaction of two or more atmospheric pressure plasma jets for increased control and manipulation. The interaction zone itself offers the possibility of a more controllable gentle environment for delicate treatments. The interaction between two counter-streaming atmospheric pressure plasma jets is investigated. The individual plasmas are formed inside a glass tube between two ring electrodes surrounding the tube and driven using a kHz excitation frequency. Gas is supplied between the two electrodes and this design produces significant plasma jets (few centimeters) at both the powered and grounded electrode side. The emission from these jets, while continuous to the naked eye, of a time scale of micro-seconds emits discrete plasma pockets (from both the grounded and powered electrode side). The dynamics of the interaction between these plasma pockets is presented.