Data-driven Diagnostics of the Impact of Surface Effects on the Properties of Dielectric Barrier Discharges (d3DBD)

• Applicants: Dr. Markus Becker; Dr. Hans Höft
• Subject Area: Optics, Quantum Optics and Physics of Atoms, Molecules and Plasmas
• Term: since 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 535827833

Non-thermal plasmas are used in a variety of applications due to the efficient generation of reactive species via transient discharges. One common method for generating these plasmas is the dielectric barrier discharge (DBD). In DBDs, the interaction between plasma and surface plays a significant role and a detailed understanding of the influence of the dielectric on the plasma properties is essential for the development and optimisation of current plasma applications in, among others, medicine, agriculture and air purification. To gain this understanding, a direct combination of experiment and modelling is a promising approach. To this end, the project will develop an approach to data-driven diagnostics that integrates measurement and simulation data in a common database. This opens up completely new possibilities for the systematic analysis of complex surface effects, which will be used within the project to answer urgent research questions. The studies will be carried out using a single-filament DBD in N2-O2 gas mixtures and Ar at atmospheric pressure. Recent studies have shown that this setup is particularly suitable for investigating cutting-edge fundamental questions due to its stability and reproducibility. For experimental discharge characterisation, fast electrical measurements are synchronised with optical diagnostics and accompanied by THz time- domain spectroscopy. Results of reaction kinetic models and spatially resolved fluid simulations significantly extend the discharge characterisation, especially in comparison with the experimental data. Direct linking of measured and simulation data is enabled by means of a common database with uniform data and metadata formats for all measured and calculated discharge parameters. Methods for verification of simulation codes and validation of models and experimental data are developed and applied to ensure the reliability of the database. On this data basis, the effects of individual surface effects on the different discharge phases of the DBD will be studied by means of systematic data analyses and it will be explored whether the surface effects, together with already known volume effects, can be specifically used for an optimisation of plasma properties. In the spirit of “Open Science”, the database and the tools for automated data processing and data-driven research will be made publicly available. Thus, on the one hand, this project introduces new methods for verification and validation of research software, models and measurement data in the field of low-temperature plasma physics and, on the other hand, provides new insights into the interaction of application-relevant discharges with dielectric surfaces. In addition, the data and metadata formats developed in this project can be applied in other fields and are important to ensure the accessibility and reusability of research data, which is currently a major issue in the scientific community.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Co-Investigator: Professor Dr. Ronny Brandenburg