Carla McDonnell - Student Profile
Current Research Project:
Characterising an Atmospheric Pressure Helium Plasma Jet
Atmospheric pressure plasmas are currently of great interest due to their potential applications in industry and medicine, including wound healing and cancer therapies as well as agricultural applications. The study of the temperature, electron density and ionised species of such plasma bullets is difficult but essential if we are to understand their nature and interactions with surfaces such as biological specimens.
In this project a range of techniques such as optical emission spectroscopy and Thomson scattering are applied along with ultra-fast optical imaging to gather a complete data set on an atmospheric pressure helium plasma jet.
Biography
Carla graduated with a Master’s degree in Physics with Medical Applications in 2019 at Queen’s University Belfast, receiving the O’Sullivan prize for the highest overall mark in Level 4 of the MSci Medical Physics degree. Her research interests include plasma physics and its potential applications in the medical sector.
Research interest
- Plasma physics
- Medical physics