Dielectric Barrier Discharge In Atmospheric Helium Under Different Background Air Pressure

The Penning ionization in atmospheric helium Dielectric Barrier Discharges (DBD) with air impurity was investigated. Discharge inception voltage and emission spectra were measured under Background Air Pressures (BAP) from 0.8Pa to 1000Pa. Results show that in a range of BAP from 0.8Pa to 190Pa, discharge inception voltage decrease obviously and the intensity of the 391.4nm line increase with the BAR When BAP exceeds 190Pa, discharge inception voltage Increases linearly obviously, and intensity of the 391.4nm line gradually drops to lower value with the BAP, even about a zero value at last. Emission spectra of helium decrease with the BAR Physical processes analysis indicates both discharge inception voltage and emission spectra illustrate that Penning ionization due to helium metastables and N-2 varies with the BAP.