A newly developed ion head architecture for high resolution ionographic printing, with a spot size capability of ∼100 μm, utilizes a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) to produce an atmospheric pressure plasma that is the source of the charge. The DBD is produced using a radio frequency (rf) voltage and extracted with biased electrodes having designs which focus the charge. To aid in the development of the ion head and interpretation of experiments, a first principles program of multi-dimensional computer modeling of the ion head devices has been conducted. Results from the model will be discussed showing the dependence of the magnitude and shape of extracted charge from the ion head and current waveforms as a function of driving voltage and frequencies of the rf excitation, dielectric materials and geometry of the head.
Jun-Chieh Wang, Mark J. Kushner, Napoleon Leoni, Henryk Birecki, Omer Gila, "Numerical Simulations of Dielectric Barrier Discharges in a High Resolution Ion Print Head" in Proc. IS&T Int'l Conf. on Digital Printing Technologies and Digital Fabrication (NIP27), 2011, pp 164 - 167, https://doi.org/10.2352/ISSN.2169-4451.2011.27.1.art00042_1