Getting the biggest bang out of plasma jets

Capillary discharge plasma jets are created by a large current that passes through a low-density gas in what is called a capillary chamber. The gas ionizes and turns into plasma. When plasma expands in the capillary chamber due to arc energy heating, plasma ejects from the capillary nozzle forming the plasma jet. A new study examines how the dimensions of the capillary producing the plasma affect the jet’s length.