Characterization of a supersonic microwave discharge in Ar/H2/Air mixtures

Detailed characterization of a microwave cavity discharge in the supersonic flow of Ar/H-2/Air mixtures at static pressures of 1-10 Torr and Mach number 2 is mostly based on emission spectroscopy techniques. In the conditions close to real combustion environments, effects of hydrogen and air admixture to plasma parameters and population of excited species in the discharge are demonstrated. The effects resulting in ionization loss are discussed from the aspects of dominant mechanisms and consequences for the plasma assisted hydrogen oxidation. (c) 2008 American Institute of Physics.