Collaborative Research: Exploring Cold Atmospheric Plasma Physics

非平衡大气微等离子体是一种新型等离子体，在医学和纳米技术方面具有巨大的潜力。我们对大气微等离子体和等离子体与生物物质相互作用的性质的了解非常有限。在这个项目中，我们将特别推进与医疗应用有关的大气微等离子体的知识。该研究项目将作为等离子体科学领域本科和研究生教育的载体。各学院将与乔治华盛顿大学的有关学生组织密切合作，共同努力使妇女和代表性不足的少数民族学生参与这一项目。为了征聘妇女，将与女工程师协会联系并将项目活动通知该协会。此外，本科生将通过工作学习计划或本科生研究经验补充参与研究。这些经历将传授给他们知识和技能，使他们在完成学业后能够在独立的学术或行业职业中脱颖而出。该项目的教育计划还旨在引起人们对等离子科学和生物工程领域的科学和技术的兴趣，并接触到K-12教师、学童和他们的父母。特别是，我们计划与华盛顿大都会地区的当地学校进行互动。该项目的中心目标是了解非平衡大气微等离子体的潜在物理特性，并将其应用于生物领域。为此，我们将开发和实施一系列适用于大气微等离子体的新诊断方法和工具。整个项目将解决电离机制、能量平衡和流传播的条件以及与过电压相关的影响。这个项目既有基础意义，又有技术意义。这个项目的根本意义在于理解非平衡大气微等离子体的潜在物理学。为此目的，将研制各种大气压微等离子体诊断仪器。该仪器的可用性对大气微等离子体领域的未来发展至关重要。在这些进步的推动下，其技术意义在于探索大气微等离子体的广泛应用，如等离子体医学和纳米技术。

Non-equilibrium atmospheric microplasmas are a new and fascinating type of a plasma that has tremendous potential in medicine and nanotechnology. Our understanding of the atmospheric microplasmas and the nature of the plasma interaction with biological matter is very limited. In this project, we will, in particular, advance the knowledge of atmospheric microplasmas relevant for medical applications. This research program will serve as a vehicle for undergraduate and graduate education in the field of plasma science. The PIs will make a concerted effort to involve women and under-represented minority students in this project by working closely with the relevant student organizations at George Washington University. To recruit women, the Society of Women Engineers will be contacted and informed of the project activities. In addition, undergraduate students will be engaged in the research through the Work Study program or a Research Experience for Undergraduates supplement. The experience will impart them with the knowledge and the skills to excel in independent academic or industry careers they pursue after completing their education. The educational plan for this project also aims to generate interest in science and technology in the area of plasma science and bioengineering and to reach out to K-12 teachers, school children and their parents. In particular, we plan to interact with local schools in the Metropolitan DC area.The central objective of this project is to understand the underlying physics of non-equilibrium atmospheric microplasmas with a view towards biological applications. To this end we will develop and implement a wide range of new diagnostic methodologies and tools applicable for atmospheric microplasmas. The overall project will address the ionization mechanism, energy balance and conditions for streamer propagation as well as effects related to overvoltage. This project has both fundamental and technological significance. The fundamental significance of this project is in understanding the underlying physics of non-equilibrium atmospheric microplasmas. To this end a wide spectrum of diagnostic instrumentation for atmospheric pressure microplasmas will be developed. Availability of this instrumentation has critical importance for the future progress of the field of atmospheric microplasmas. Enabled by these advances, the technological significance lies in exploring the wide range of applications of atmospheric microplasmas, such as plasma medicine and nanotechnology.