An Exploratory Study on Discharge Transitions and Stability of Radio Frequency Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Jet

Atmospheric pressure plasma jets (APPJs) represent a forefront in contemporary plasma technology, providing non-thermal avenues to generate highly reactive environments pivotal for various applications [1]. However, understanding and controlling plasma’s dynamic behavior, especially regarding thermal instability phenomena, remains crucial for optimizing performance and broadening applicability [2, 3]. This study probes thermal instability in radio frequency (RF) atmospheric pressure plasma jets, aiming to unveil mechanisms underlying filament formation on the power electrode at lower power ranges and subsequent glow-to-arc transition (GAT) at higher powers.