Transverse dc glow discharges in atmospheric pressure air

Plasma-flow interactions are investigated in transverse direct current glow discharges in atmospheric pressure air. Interestingly, the slower flow "blows out" the discharge farther than the faster flow. We find this counter intuitive result to be mainly due to gas heating in the discharge: the temperature is higher for the slower flow, thus enhancing the reduced electric field E/N and causing the discharge to extend farther downstream.