Sinéad Mannion (She/Her)

Current research project

Validating of Atmospheric-Pressure Plasma Jets using Finite Element Analysis

Atmospheric-pressure plasma jets (APPJ) generate chemically reactive species that operate at atmospheric pressure and ambient temperature for a wide range of applications. Plasmas jets produce charged particles (electrons and ions), neutral metastable species, radicals, electric fields, and VUV or UV photons. This plasma cocktail not only triggers a variety of cell responses (cell detachment, apoptosis) but is at a temperature that does not damage tissue/skin.

Plasma medical applications or plasma medicine examples include the killing of cancer cells, wound healing, and sterilisation. The plasma jet set up at Queen's University Belfast has shown to be effective in bacteria inactivation. Our experiment consists of helium gas flowing through an open dielectric tube into air at atmospheric pressure and room temperature. Gas flowing through the quartz tube excited by the pulsed voltage given by the copper electrodes creates the plasma. APPJ can be 1000s K in the tube, but the plasma jet itself can have temperatures of a few 100 K making it ideal for biomedical applications.

In collaboration with Prof Murakami of Seikei University, we have a working model that is a good match for our experiment. The simulation results include the electrical and plasma properties of the jet.

Biography

Sinéad graduated from Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology in 2002 with a BSc in Physics & Instrumentation. Followed by a HDip in System Analysis and a MSc in Biomedical Science from National University of Ireland, Galway in 2008. After completing a MSc in Plasma Physics & Vacuum Technology from Dublin City University in 2013, Sinéad found her field of interest in plasma physics. In 2013, she started her part-time PhD in Queen’s University Belfast modelling plasmas.

Research interests

• Low-temperature Plasmas
• Finite Element Analysis
• Plasma Medicine