ENERGY TRANSFER KENETICS DURING PLASMA-SURFACE INDICATORS
Abstract
The ability of plasmas to deliver both energy and chemically active species to surfaces creates unique coupled electronic and thermal transport processes, which can result in either deleterious thermomechanical and thermochemical responses or can be harnessed for material processing. With the use of in situ ultrafast optical detection and sub-picosecond laser systems, the overarching objective of this proposed program is to resolve the influence of the various energetic species in an atmospheric plasma on the resulting electronic and thermal response of materials in real time. Through the development of this unique plasma-surface energy transfer diagnostic, this proposed work will measure the optical response of material surfaces subjected to various types, intensities, and temporal profiles of atmospheric pressure plasma excitations. Control over both the photon energy and temporal resolution of the laser probe using sub-picosecond and continuous wave lasers of various wavelengths will enable selective probing of the optical response of the plasma excited surface, which in turn will be related to the electronic structure and scattering dynamics, thermal transport, and elastic properties of the plasma facing material. The foundations established during this proposed work will open a new diagnostic approach that can be broadly applied to a variety of materials subjected to plasmas operating under both low- and high-pressure environments. These advances in our understanding of plasma-driven excited, nonequilibrium and extreme environments at the surface of materials are necessary to advance plasma processing of materials related to electronic devices, protective coatings, optical detection and sensing, and power management for use in applications and technologies of interest to the Department of Defense, and specifically the Air Force and Space Force.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Apr 20, 2023
- Source ID
- FA95502210456
Entities
People
- Patrick Hopkins
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- United States Air Force
- University of Virginia