Estimation of electron parameters in the dielectric barrier discharge with a liquid electrode at atmospheric pressure

In the oxygen dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) at atmospheric pressure, the current and voltage waveforms within the range of the mean-square voltages, 3.6–10.3 kV, and currents, 0.14–0.57 mA, were measured. The discharge burns in the glow regime. From the analysis of the equivalent discharge circuit, the voltage applied to the plasma was found. On the basis of these data, the reduced strength of the electric fields, E/N, was determined. From solution of the Botzmann equation for the electrons in the O₂-H₂O mixture, the electron distribution functions over the energies (EDFE) and certain electron parameters were found; the influence of presence of the H₂O molecules on those parameters was analyzed.