The Dielectric Barrier Discharge: A Bright Spark for Australia's Future

Abstract

A dielectric barrier or silent discharge is the name given to a transient gas discharge occurring between two electrodes separated by one or two layers of dielectric material. They have formed the basis of commercial ozonisers for nearly a century but, despite the maturity of this technology, significant experimental and theoretical questions remain to be answered about the operation of these discharges before they can be fully exploited in new applications. Of particular interest is the potential that dielectric barrier discharges display for development as sources of intense, monochromatic, incoherent UV/VUV radiation. This paper briefly outlines the current status of the field with regard to research into the operation and UV/VUV radiative spectroscopy of dielectric barrier discharges. Some applications of these sources are briefly discussed and some of the theoretical models proposed to explain their operation are outlined. The paper concludes with a summary and outlook of the experimental and theoretical project that is being set up under a collaborative venture by CQU and ANU to study dielectric barrier discharges.