The Open Applied Physics Journal

2011, 4 : 45-63
Published online 2011 December 30. DOI: 10.2174/1874183501104010045
Publisher ID: TOAPJ-4-45

Microplasmas: A Review

A. P. Papadakis , S. Rossides and A. C. Metaxas
Department of Electrical Engineering, Frederick University, Pallouriotissa, 1036, Nicosia, Cyprus.

ABSTRACT

In this paper, a review on microplasma discharges is conducted. The different types and configurations used in microplasmas such as the Cathode Boundary Layer (CBL), Dielectric Barrier Discharge (DBD), Capillary Plasma Electrode Discharge (CPED), Inverted Square Pyramid (ISP), Square Cross Sectional Cavities (SCSC), Radio Frequency Inductively Coupled Discharge (RFIC), Radio Frequency Capacitive Coupled Discharge (RFCC), Micro-Hollow Cathode Discharge (MHCD), and microstrip technology (MS) discharges at different operating conditions are discussed. Numerical and experimental methods used for the analysis of the physics involved in these microplasmas, as well as the different construction methods used, are also described.