Investigation of Magnetized DC Corona Discharge for Atmospheric Pressure and Biomedical Plasma Applications

This project examines non-equilibrium atmospheric pressure plasma (NEAPP) produced by a DC corona discharge system for use in decontamination and medical treatment procedures. NEAPP is a unique candidate for such applications due to two of its characteristics: it remains near room temperature (it is in non-equilibrium; only it electrons are “hot”) and it may be produced at atmospheric pressure; in other words, NEAPP, unlike other plasmas, may be used on thermolabile materials and produced without a vacuum chamber [1]. A DC corona discharge system will be used to investigate NEAPP emissions and optimize its production by the manipulation of the surrounding magnetic field; emitted species will be identified by spectroscopy, and a high-speed camera will be used to monitor any transient behavior of the NEAPP. The discharge itself will be optimized for the production of apoptosis- or necrosis-inducing species by the variation of discharge conditions, including voltage, current, gas flow rate, and gas mixture.

The setup of this project offers a unique opportunity: promoting public awareness of STEM research and its value to medical treatment and space exploration. Considering the safety (discharge currents).