Flowing Plasmas and Afterglows with Nitrogen for Surface Modifications focuses on N2 microwave flowing plasmas and afterglows in two-photon absorption laser induced fluorescence (TALIF) diagnostics applied to kinetic reactions in flowing afterglows of gas mixtures containing N2 and H2 . It also examines the applications of N2 afterglows in TiO2 surface nitriding and in the sterilization of medical instruments.

This book first covers plasma diagnostics, considering electron collisions on neutral atoms and molecules, and applying optical spectroscopy to vibrational and rotational (gas) temperature measurements. It then focuses on microwave plasmas and afterglow reactions with laser detection of active species – such as N and H atoms – applying the results on N-atoms TiO2 surface treatment and sterilization. Lastly, the book delves into afterglows with classifications from low to high gas pressures (up to atmosphere) and from fundamental to applied results. A postface is devoted to several setups of glow discharges and optimal values of atom densities.

Andre Ricard is Director of Research Emeritus at the LAPLACE laboratory, Toulouse University, and LPGP laboratory, Paris Saclay, France. He holds a PhD with a thesis on the He and Ne metastable atoms in dc discharge.

Jayr Amorim is a professor at the Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica and Universidade Federal Fluminense, Brazil. He holds a PhD with a thesis on the study of hydrogen discharge by VUV absorption and laser-induced fluorescence, from the Université Paris-Saclay, France.