A non-equilibrium plasma source: magnetically stabilized gliding arc discharge: II. Electrical characterization

A magnetic field is used to stabilize a gliding plasma discharge for controlled study purposes. The design, development, voltage-current characteristics, rotational and vibrational temperature measurements and the presence of an 'overshooting' regime in the magnetically stabilized gliding arc discharge (MSGAD) were discussed in part I (Gangoli et al 2010 Plasma Sources Sci. Technol. 19 065003). This paper deals with further experimental quantification of the dimensional features, current densities and power dissipated per unit length in the MSGAD. Estimations are made of important plasma properties, such as electric field, average electron energies and densities, that provide insight into the non-equilibrium 'glow-like' nature of the MSGAD. Visual observations of the MSGAD when operated in helium at atmospheric pressure clearly show physical features similar to a non-equilibrium glow discharge.