Highlights

The author

Joseph W. Spencer is based at the Department of Electrical Engineering and Electronics, CIMS, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.

Keywords

Gas discharges, Plasma, Arcs, Sensors

Electronic access

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The importance of sensors, data processing and information extraction tools were discussed at the Fourteenth International Conference on Gas Discharges and their Applications (Liverpool, 2-6 September 2002). They were shown to be a vital component in the understanding of the fundamental processes within such discharges and plasmas. Furthermore, the number of different types of plasma and their numerous applications to a wide range of industrial processes highlighted that such sensing and monitoring techniques used in this area are transportable across technology boundaries and may benefit other technology areas.

Electrical discharges and plasmas are complex structures with many interrelated variables such as power input, temperature, pressure, gas flow etc. In general, electrical discharges and plasmas and their applications are vital tools in a modern technology based society. Applications for which they are used are varied. Some examples of their applications are:

• processing and manufacture of the latest semiconductor processor for use in the personal computer or in the latest mobile phone;

• processing of pure metals for aerospace use;

• environmental conditioning,

  e.g. sterilisation...