Complicated streamer dynamics in petal‐like patterns formed on the substrate downstream of an argon plasma jet

Abstract Streamer behaviors, related to discharge patterns, can determine the distribution of active species, which play an important role in the applications of the plasma jet. In this article, petal‐like patterns formed on the substrate are observed for the first time downstream of an argon plasma jet. The penta‐petalous pattern is taken as an example to discuss the pattern formation mechanism, which results from two positive discharges ( D p1 and D p2 ) and one negative discharge ( D n ) in every voltage cycle. Fast photography is implemented to reveal the complicated streamer dynamics of D p2 . Results indicate that D p2 with a low Q undergoes a stripe phase, a homogeneous phase, and a branch phase. The complicated streamer dynamics of D p2 are analyzed based on optical emission spectra.