Eur. Phys. J. D 60, 621-625 (2010)
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjd/e2010-00211-8

Circular array of stable atmospheric pressure microplasmas

Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts, 02155, USA

Corresponding author: ^a hopwood@ece.tufts.edu

Received: 30 April 2010
Revised: 30 June 2010
Published online: 6 August 2010

Abstract

A circular array composed of six quarter-wavelength microstripline resonators sustains a stable ring-shaped microplasma in atmospheric pressure argon. A single power source (1 GHz, <5 W) drives all six resonators. The operation of the array is modeled by coupled mode theory (CMT) and confirmed by electromagnetic simulations. Non-uniformities in the plasma ring are attributed to parasitic plasma sheath capacitance and confirmed by CMT.