ABSTRACT
High-pressure non-equilibrium plasmas possess unique features and characteristics which have provided the basis for a host of applications. Being non-equilibrium, these plasmas exhibit electron energies much higher than that of the ions and the neutral species. The energetic electrons enter into collision with the background gas causing enhanced level of dissociation, excitation and ionization. Unlike the case of thermal plasmas, these reactions occur without an increase in the gas enthalpy. Because the ions and the neutrals remain relatively cold, the plasma does not cause any thermal damage to articles they may come in contact with. This characteristic opens up the possibility of using these plasmas for the treatment of heatsensitive materials including biological tissues. In addition, operation in the high-pressure regime lends itself to the utilization of three-body processes to generate useful species such as ozone and excimers (excited dimers and trimers).
