Numerical simulations based on fluid equations with semi-kinetic treatment of electrons, by coupling it with a Boltzmann-solver (e.g. Bolsig+, GJM Hagelaar and LC Pitchford Plasma Sources Sci Technol. 14 (2005) 722–733), are used for investigations of an rf micro atmospheric pressure plasma jet.

The video below shows the dynamics of the electron density within the rf cycle, in the 1-d simulation, between the powered and grounded electrode of a rf micro atmospheric pressure plasma.

The figures below show how the simulation can be benchmarked to the experiment through comparing the time and space resolved excitation dynamics within the rf cycle.

Waskoenig J, Niemi K, Knake N, Graham L M , Reuter S, Schulz-von der  Gathen V and Gans T, "Diagnostic based modeling on a micro-scale atmospheric pressure plasma jet",  Pure and Applied Chemistry , (2010) accepted

Niemi K, Reuter S, Graham L M, Waskoenig J, Knake N, Schulz-von der  Gathen V, and Gans T, "Diagnostic based modelling of radio-frequency driven atmospheric pressure plasma",  J. Physics D: Appl. Phys., (2010) accepted