New approaches in thermal plasma technology*
Joachim Heberlein
High Temperature and Plasma Laboratory, Department
of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
55455, USA
Abstract: Thermal plasmas offer unique advantages for materials
processing, such as high fluxes of heat and of reactant species. Recent
developments have concentrated on improving control of these fluxes
across the boundaries surrounding the thermal plasma. Secondary discharges
(hybrid plasma generators) and pulse modulation of the plasma have been
some of the approaches for this end. The use of such methods is described
for selected applications. Plasma characterization through advanced
models and diagnostics are concentrating on description of plasma instabilities
and various nonequilibrium conditions. Understanding of these effects
will allow their use for enhanced processing methods.
* Lecture presented at the 15th International Symposium
on Plasma Chemistry, Orléans, France, 9-13 July 2001. Other presentations
are presented in this issue, pp. 317–492.
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