![\"Joseph](\"https:\/\/huangshizhaopin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/blogs.dir\/209\/files\/2012\/12\/Jordan375.jpg\" "\\"Jordan375\\"")
<\/a>Saint Peter’s Prep student Joseph Jordan presents his summer’s work to his colleagues. Joe has spent two summers studying microplasma and gaining valuable experience in the modern instrumentation used in plasma physics.<\/p><\/div>\n
Under the auspices of the U.S. Air Force and the American Chemical Society, paid internships have been offered to promising high school students from Northern New Jersey.\u00a0 These projects have included learning and teaching about plasma and actual hands-on experience with current research projects at CMST.\u00a0 One example of the work done is a five part video series done by students to introduce plasma science to other students.\u00a0Other students worked directly with CMST researchers on current projects.\u00a0 Work included UV spectroscopy, analysis of power profiles and\u00a0analysis of UV production methods.<\/p>\n
Research<\/h3>\n
The current nature of the research spans the spectrum from\u00a0fundamental inquiries into the basic plasma physics and chemistry of microplasmas to the work on potential microplasma technological applications. CMST maintains five active research laboratories on the Jersey City campus of Saint Peter\u2019s University that support the various research projects. Undergraduate and local high school students have the opportunity to work with CMST staff members on various projects.<\/p>\n
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<\/a>Pulsed DC Homogeneous DBD<\/p><\/div>\n
Dielectric Barrier Discharges (DBDs) are\u00a0usually filamentary in character, consists of a large number of streamers or microdischarges randomly distributed across the dielectric surface. Since DBDs produce normally a filamentary plasma, they do not effectively provide uniform material treatment when used in surface modification applications. However, under special operating conditions (e.g.,\u00a0proper gap distance\u00a0and\u00a0sub-microsecond pulsed DC\u00a0power), DBDs appears to\u00a0be in\u00a0a diffuse (glow) mode – as viewed from a magnesium fluoride window in the photo to the left.<\/p>\n
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<\/a>36 wire 1-D Capillary DBD<\/p><\/div>\n
DBDs come in many different arrangements. The one to the right (Cap-DBD) in particular involves metal wires wrapped with capillary tubings and\u00a0powered by low kilohertz alternating current power. Same and even gap distance maintained all through the device\u00a0is essential for the successful operation of the device.\u00a0Cap-DBD is easily expandable to x-, y- and z- directions as well as to cylindrical arrangement, making it a perfect candidate for\u00a0compact ozone generator, excimer source and volatile organic compound (VOC) remediation.<\/p>\n
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<\/a>Plasma Microjet in water<\/p><\/div>\n
Discharge in water tends to be difficult due to\u00a0the high dielectric constant of water. Common approaches include high voltage\u00a0pulsed DC discharge and\u00a0gliding arc\u00a0discharge, often with the assistance of noble gas flow through the active discharge zone as well as the addition of electrolyte to alter the conductivity of water.\u00a0\u00a0 By continuously<\/span> flowing gas (such as compressed air or noble gas\/oxygen gas mixture)\u00a0through a direct current powered microhollow cathode discharge, a stable plasma microjet (~1-2 cm\u00a0in length)\u00a0is generated. Interestingly enough, when\u00a0submerged in water, a quasi-steady gas cavity forms around the\u00a0exit nozzle, therefore sustaining the plasma microjet. The plasma generated species interact with water molecule on the gas cavity-water boundary,\u00a0and particularly\u00a0on the microdroplets of water that exist within the gas cavity, therefore increasing\u00a0the efficiency of the plasma-water chemistry.\u00a0Best of all, the concept has been proven to work in liquids other than water. Potential applications include\u00a0small volume water disinfection, under-water treatment of skin disorder, dental disinfection\u00a0and fuel reformation.<\/p>\n
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