New Methods of Controlling Electron Kinetics and Plasma Chemistry in Pulsed Discharges of Electronegative Gases

A number of modern technologies utilize unique properties of highly non-equilibrium plasmas produced by electric discharges in molecular gases. Electron kinetics and vibrationally excited molecules define key chemical reactions in these plasmas. The goal of this project is to utilize the non-local nature of electron kinetics to improve the performance of various plasma devices under pulsed power conditions. In Phase I, the analysis of electron kinetics and vibrational kinetics will be performed for the high-pressure conditions present in the Electric Oxygen-Iodine Laser (EOIL), and for the low-pressure conditions typical to material processing reactors and MHD generators. The role of runaway electrons and nonlocal ionization in the active phase, and the role of vibrational excitation and fast electrons generated in chemical reactions in the passive phase will be investigated using computational tools developed at CFDRC. Different methods of tailoring the electron distribution function and vibrational distribution function for efficient production of singlet delta oxygen (SDO) and dynamics of negative ions (facilitating electron detachment) will be investigated via analytical models and computational experiments. The Ohio State University will provide expertise in non-equilibrium vibrational kinetics and plasma chemistry, and experimentally demonstrate the effect of fast and non-local electrons in Phase II.