Streamer self-focusing in an external longitudinal magnetic field.

The numerical simulation of the development of a streamer discharge in a gap with an external longitudinal magnetic field was used to demonstrate the self-focusing of such discharges. Self-focusing is caused by a sharp deceleration of the radial ionization wave due to a change in the electron energy distribution function, a decrease in the average electron energy, the rate of gas ionization, and the electron mobility in crossed electric and magnetic fields as compared to the case of the discharge development without a magnetic field. The self-focusing effect of a streamer discharge in an external longitudinal magnetic field is observed for both positive and negative pulse polarities.

[Personal Telemonitoring: Perspectives of Development in Arhythmology and Cardiology].

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) persists as one of challenging problems in cardiology and cardiac surgery, only in Russia costing more than 350,000 deaths annually. Arrhythmias and ischemic heart disease (IHD) prevail as SCD immediate direct mechanisms. Unfortunately, timely diagnostics of heart diseases is far below the satisfactory level.

Physics and chemistry of plasma-assisted combustion.

There are several mechanisms that affect a gas when using discharge plasma to initiate combustion or to stabilize a flame. There are two thermal mechanisms-the homogeneous and inhomogeneous heating of the gas due to 'hot' atom thermalization and vibrational and electronic energy relaxation. The homogeneous heating causes the acceleration of the chemical reactions.

On the role of 'hot' atoms in plasma-assisted ignition.

This paper discusses the processes leading to the formation of 'hot' atoms and radicals possessing excessive translational energy in high-voltage NS pulse discharges. It is shown that the formation of such 'hot' atoms occurs efficiently both in the dissociation of molecules by direct electron impact, and in the collisional quenching of electronically excited states. Depending on the magnitude of the reduced electric field in the discharge, reactions of these 'hot' atoms increase the initial concentration of radicals in the discharge afterglow two to three times when compared with the values calculated without effects of translational non-equilibrium.

Inactivation of bacteria using dc corona discharge: role of ions and humidity.

Here we present the results of an experimental study of the effect of ions produced in a dc corona discharge on inactivation of bacteria on the surface of agarose gel. Both positive and negative corona discharges in various gases at different humidities were studied. The measurements in air, O(2), N(2), Ar and He mixtures show that there is no inactivation in pure N(2), pure O(2) and an N(2)-H(2)O mixture.