Transient on a nanosecond timescale and featuring high density gradients, atmospheric pressure non-thermal plasmas are fascinating systems for research. Examining in addition how they interact with targets of different types makes this research line important for applications in e.g. plasma-assisted catalysis, medicine, agriculture, even art.

Understanding fast transient discharges and how they interact with targets of different types

Our team researches non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasmas and their interaction with various substrates for applications on sensitive targets. These plasmas generate extreme conditions such as high electric fields, high charge density and high density of chemically active species. However, the high speed at which they develop and their short lifetime measured in nanoseconds make them applicable to sensitive targets including living tissue. This has created a revolution in e.g. medicine, where plasmas of this type are researched for their antimicrobial properties as well as usage against cancer.

We pursue two topics of research – the non-thermal plasmas and their interaction with targets. There is a tremendous lack of understanding of even fundamental processes in both topics. In addition, because these plasmas are highly sensitive to their environments, approaching a target changes the plasma and the plasma-target system has to be reconsidered as a whole. Targets as simple as water already create an incredibly complex system with the impinging plasma. Because of the highly transient nature of these plasmas and their high complexity, the existing experimental diagnostics often fall short, thus also creating the necessity to develop new diagnostics to further the understanding of the plasma-target system.

We focus on plasma jets, DBDs, streamers in pin-substrate geometries and the characterization and understanding of their fundamental properties. With targets we are developing a system for E field and charge measurements on complex (imperfect) targets under plasma exposure, but also characterizing the interaction of plasma and water through bulk liquid characterization as well as interface research. The goal is to further the understanding of this type of plasmas and their interaction with complex targets, so that they can be used in applications. To make sure our generated knowledge gets used in real life, we collaborate with a number of scientists with different specialities, such as biochemists, biologists, medical doctors, but also electrical and mechanical engineers.