Abstract: Plasma generation system comprising a high voltage generator (20) connected to at least two electrodes (26, 28), one having a large radius of curvature, or having a plane geometry, and the other having a small radius of curvature, this high voltage generator being controlled (32, 34, 36) in such a way as to maintain constant the mean frequency of occurrence of the current discharges between the electrodes.

Abstract: A method of sterilizing at least one article by means of a plasma and in the presence of humidity using a non-biocidal gas containing oxygen and nitrogen, the article being placed outside the discharge in a sealed treatment enclosure that is subjected substantially to atmospheric pressure, the method comprising the following steps: introducing the humidified non-biocidal gas into the treatment enclosure; creating a first plasma discharge A for a determined duration enabling the effectiveness of the sterilizing species created during the following stage to be guaranteed within the entire enclosure; creating a second plasma discharge B during a determined duration enabling said article to be sterilized; and rinsing the treatment enclosure during a determined duration so as to guarantee that it contains a non-polluting atmosphere when the enclosure is subsequently opened.