ABSTRACT
The core plasma is characterized by electron dynamics and electron-ion and electron-atom interaction. Diagnostics need to be highly space and time resolved to yield information about neutral, charged, ground state, and excited species dynamics. Plasmas carry free electrons and are, therefore, conducting. This means that information about the plasma properties in the core plasma region can be gained from electrical measurements. In kHz plasma jets and in dielectric barrier discharges, voltage probe and current probe measurements yield reliable results. The approach to use Lissajous figure measurements for determination of power dissipation is most prominently used in dielectric barrier discharges, but has found its place in the electrical characterization of plasma jets. Short pulsed discharges make use of nanosecond excitation to avoid arcing and heating processes that lead to plasma instabilities. Excited species in a plasma can be monitored by fast imaging. From fast imaging results, excitation processes in electrical discharges can be analyzed.
