Radiative transport modeling in technological plasmas and combustion

Plasma technology has become a major driver of the modern economy. Industrial applications are numerous and increasing due to the unique
properties plasmas can offer. Applications range from semiconductor manufacturing, plasma-assisted combustion to plasma medicine, plasma catalysis to
plasma fusion. Plasmas are often used industrially for surface treatment or as a chemical process catalysis. Plasma glow is an inherent energy loss channel which
results in the emission of radiation. This glow provides a helpful tool to understand what species dominate in the plasma as well as applications such as sterilisation of germs. Sometimes radiation has a negative impact on plasma processes such as radiation damage to semiconductors during microchip manufacturing. Currently, most plasma models ignore the role of radiation meaning there is a lack of knowledge about an essential process in the plasma. Without assessing the radiative processes the plasma cannot be fully understood.

The proposal aims to provide the capability to model radiative processes in (technological) plasmas by combining two databases: the ExoMol database of molecular
radiative properties, developed at UCL for the study of the atmospheres of exoplanets and other hot bodies, and QDB (the Quantemol DataBase) of plasma reactions
developed by project partner Quantemol Ltd to provide input to models of (technological) plasmas. The combined database will be augmented by software which
will allow full radiative-collisional modelling of the given plasma and simulated high resolution emission spectra of the resulting plasma.

The project aims to provide a commercial product by the end of the grant period.