Low Power High Electron Density Discharge Over the Liquid Surface

Generation of the high electron density, atmospheric pressure, pulsed discharge over the liquid surface is described. The electron densities around 1018cm−3 are achieved with only 40 mJ per pulse. The discharge operates in self-triggering regime and the working frequency can be adjusted by the current of the power supply. It is a spark-like discharge in contact with liquid with argon as a working gas. The distinct nature of the discharge is its self-organized propagation over the liquid surface, which makes it suitable for the treatment of surfactants, such as perfluoroalkyl substances and triton. The discharge may also be used as a good laboratory for the development and testing of plasma diagnostics techniques, due to its simpleness and low cost.