In this PhD thesis numerical simulations based on a 2D fluid model are used to characterize pulsed Helium plasma jets. The model for He plasma jets is developed to describe He jets flowing in N2 and O2 atmospheres and interacting with targets. The discharge dynamics in He jets impacting a grounded metallic target is analyzed with both positive and negative polarities of applied voltage. The temporal and spatial evolutions of electric field associated to the first and rebound ionization fronts are in good qualitative agreement with recent electric field measurements. Then, the plasma-target interaction occurring between a positive discharge and a BSO dielectric target is investigated in detail and results are directly compared with experimen...