Calculation of characterisctics of electron drift in neon under a DC electric field

The features of the energy distribution function of electrons drifting in a monatomic gas are analyzed. The case of electron drift in neon under typical experimental conditions for dust structures in plasma is considered. The results of calculation of the energy balance of electrons and drift characteristics in an electric field at strengths of 0.1 < E/N < 1000 Td taking into account inelastic collisions are presented.     

Electron temperature in a decaying krypton plasma in the presence of a low electric field

The influence of low electric fields on the average electron energy in an afterglow krypton plasma is studied by means of probe diagnostics and theoretical analysis. It is shown that, when the average electron energy is lower than the energy corresponding to the minimum scattering transport cross section, the degree of plasma ionization substantially affects the shape of the electron energy distribution function (EEDF). The nonequlibrium character of the EEDF results in the density dependence of the coefficient of ambipolar diffusion, which leads to a change in the radial profile of the charged particle density, an increase in the drop in the ambipolar potential across the plasma, and an increase in the rate of diffusive plasma decay. These effects substantially enhance the diffusive cooling of electrons, which is probably a decisive factor influencing the electron energy balance in high-Z noble gases.     

Formation of the distribution function for runaway electrons in strong fields of pulsed gas discharges

A simplified Boltzmann equation describing the escape of electrons in a weakly ionized gas is constructed. The electric fields are assumed to be so strong that all electrons are runaway electrons and the electron distribution function is strongly anisotropic. The equation is solved analytically, and it is shown that the electron density in relatively weak fields exponentially increases with time, while the momentum dependence of the distribution function exponentially decreases. In strong fields, the electron density increases with time logarithmically and the momentum dependence of the electron distribution function is nonmonotonic. The characteristic scales of time and energy, which determine different scenarios, are obtained.     

Non-Maxwellian electron energy distribution function in He,He/Ar,He/Xe/H<Subscript>2</Subscript> and He/Xe/D<Subscript>2</Subscript> low temperature afterglow plasma

Experimental studies of the electron energy distribution function “EEDF” under well defined conditions in flowing afterglow plasma, using a Langmuir probe are reported. The EEDF is measured in He₂ ⁺ and Ar⁺ dominated plasmas and in XeH⁺ and XeD⁺ dominated recombining plasmas. He is used as a buffer gas at medium pressures in all experiments (1600 Pa, 250 K). The deviation of the measured EEDF from Maxwellian distribution is shown to depend on plasma composition and on the processes governing the plasma decay. The influence of energetic electrons produced during the plasma decay on the body and tail of the EEDF is observed. The mechanism of energy balance in afterglow plasma is discussed.     

Determination of the electron energy distribution in a plasma from the first and second derivatives of the probe current

An approach to the reconstruction of the electron energy distribution function (EEDF) as the sum of the second derivative of the electron current to the probe and some value proportional to its first derivative is proposed (hereafter we mean derivatives with respect to voltage). Solutions to model problems for typical electron distributions in a plasma show that this approach lowers the systematic error of EEDF reconstruction by several times in comparison with the conventional techniques using Langmuir and diffusion probes. The approach is applicable in a wide range of the ratio of the probe radius to the free path of electrons. It can be used for the determination of fast nonequilibrium electron distribution in neon discharge afterglow and also for the evaluation of the Maxwellian electron temperature in the low-energy range of nitrogen discharge afterglow.     

Gasaufheizung und Energiebilanz einer stationären hochfrequenten Ringentladung in Edelgasen

Gasheating and Energy Balance of a Stationary High Frequency Ring Discharge in Rare Gases The energy balance of an inductively coupled high frequency (28,5 Mhz) discharge in a cylindrical vessel (11,2 cm diam.) in Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe at pressures between 0,1 and 10 Torr and at power inputs between 10 and 1000 W is investigated. The heat power transferred to the neutral gas in the stationary discharge is determined from the time behaviour of the neutral gas pressure in the afterglow period. The power measurements are completed by probe measurements of the electron density and energy distribution function. The measured electron energy distribution functions are maxwellian with a slight deficit electrons in the energy range of inelastic collisions. The electron temperatures show a rather low radial space dependence which can be explained on the basis of the local energy, balance by thermal conduction in the electron gas. The measured gas heating power is within the experimental error (factor 2) in agreement with calculations from the measured electron temperature and density under the assumption that the gas is heated by elastic electron-atom-collision only. A discussion of the energy balance for the total discharge indicates volume recombination losses of the ions which increase the density of the excited atoms and hence the energy losses by stepwise exitations.     

Relaxation of the electron temperature in an inert-gas afterglow plasma at elevated pressures

The relaxation of the electron temperature T _e in helium and neon afterglow at elevated pressures is studied theoretically and experimentally. It is shown that the processes in which fast electrons are produced are accompanied by the heating of thermal electrons. The high-energy part of the electron energy distribution function is studied in the intermediate regime (between the local and nonlocal regimes) of its formation. It is shown that, in this case, the calculated effective energy transferred from the fast electrons to the thermal electrons depends substantially on the wall potential of the discharge tube. Comparison of these calculations with experiments testifies to the reliability of the probe technique for measuring T _e in an afterglow at elevated pressures.     

Electron energy distribution function in a collisional plasma heated by an electron beam

The electron energy distribution function for the non-resonant electrons in a collisional weakly ionized plasma is found, provided that the intensity of the Langmuir oscillation is spatially dependent. It is assumed that electron-electron collisions are responsible for energy loss.     

Electron energy spectra in helium observed in a microplasma collisional electron spectroscopy detector

The energy spectra of fast electrons resulting from pair collisions between metastable atoms and from collisions of the second kind with electrons are observed in the afterglow of a helium-filled microplasma collisional electron spectroscopy (CES) detector at a pressure of 5?C40 Torr. It is demonstrated that impurities present in the main inert gas can be detected and their composition can be determined using a planar double-electrode detector in which the cathode simultaneously serves as an analyzer of electrons in the afterglow.     

Study of elastic electron collisions by plasma electron spectroscopy

In this work we study elastic electron collisions by using the plasma electron spectroscopy method, which is based on the study of the electron energy distribution function in a plasma afterglow. We give the results of this method for the electron-electron collision frequency, and the frequency and cross section of the elastic collision of electrons with helium atoms.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 2, pp. 7–11, February, 1987.In conclusion, the authors express their gratitude to Professor N. P. Penkin for useful discussions concerning this work.     

The Impact of Direct Ionization by Beam Electrons on the Electron Kinetics of the Beam Discharge Plasma in Molecular Hydrogen

In a recent paper the stationary beam plasma discharge in partially dissociated hydrogen was investigated where the electron component was described by the Boltzmann equation for a mixture of atomic and molecular hydrogen and the main heavy charged and neutral particles by balance equations. It was assumed that, via the quasilinear beam plasma interaction, the electron beam produces only the turbulent electric field whilst an additional production of plasma electrons due to direct ionization by the beam and thus a direct influence on the balances of charge carriers were neglected. Now the additional production of plasma electrons due to direct ionization by the beam is studied on the basis of a generalized Boltzmann equation but for the simpler model of a purely molecular hydrogen plasma. For experimentally obtainable values of the turbulence energy density, beam energy, beam ionization degree and electron life time the calculation of the electron energy distribution function and of the direct beam contribution to the electron particle balance shows a marked influence of the direct beam ionization with increasing degree of beam ionization.     

Dynamics of electron beams in plasmas

The characteristic features of the relaxation of the energy and momentum distribution functions of the electrons in a plasma produced by a low-voltage beam discharge in helium are investigated. It is established that, contrary to widely held opinion, the energy of an intense electron beam may relax due to the wave excitation. The critical currents corresponding to a jumplike transition from one relaxation mechanism to another are measured. The density of metastable helium atoms is determined from the comparative analysis of theoretical and experimental results on the structure of the energy spectrum of the electrons of an intense beam. An intense electron beam is found to become more isotropic in the course of its interaction with Langmuir waves in a collisionless plasma. The cross section for quasi-elastic collisions between the electrons and Langmuir plasmons is estimated. The wave nature of the beam-plasma mechanism for the relaxation of the anisotropic electron energy distribution function is demonstrated, and the mechanism itself is shown to come into play when the discharge current exceeds a certain critical level. The experimental threshold criterion for the energy relaxation of an intense monoenergetic beam is obtained for the first time. It is shown that the relaxation occurs in two stages: the isotropization stage, in which the beam energy decreases insignificantly, is followed by the stage in which the beam relaxes to a state with a plateau-like energy distribution function. The threshold criterion for the relaxation of the anisotropic electron energy distribution function is universal in character regardless of the cause of anisotropy.     

Relaxation of the Electron Distribution Function

This paper discusses an analytical technique for calculating the relaxation in time of the electron distribution function f in an environment in which no perturbing forces act on the electrons. For t = 0, f may have any arbitrary form presumed to be caused by perturbing forces which were not zero during t < 0. The technique then allows calculation of the relaxation of f in time for the following types of electron collisions: a) elastic collisions with cold neutrons, b) excitation collisions in which the threshold energy for an elastic excitation collision is small compared to the electron energy, c) ionizing collisions when the energy lost by the electron is small compared to its energy, and d) any combination of the above. In this paper the method is described and simple examples are presented to illustrate the physics of relaxation for the collisional categories listed above. It is pointed out that a number of important problems can be solved by this technique primarily in the area of nuclear EMP: the forrnative lag time problem and the calculation of thermalization time. In addition, the details of the afterglow of extinguished discharges in the monotomic gases can be determined.     

射频辉光放电CH4等离子体一维流体动力学模拟

完整建立一个关于射频辉光放电CH₄等离子体的流体动力学模型.模型包括基于迁移-扩散近似的粒子平衡方程、电子能量平衡方程,共包含了20种粒子(环境气体粒子,激发态粒子,离子和电子)和49类化学反应(电子-中性环境粒子、离子-中性环境粒子、激发态粒子-激发态粒子(中性环境粒子)).结果表明,在强电场区域有较高的电子反应率系数;等离子体中除源气体CH₄外,H₂,C₂H₆,C₃H₈,C₂H₄和C₂H₂也有较高的密度含量;激发态粒子中,CH₃含量最高,密度约为10¹⁹m^-3;在较低放电压力时(如18 Pa),CH₅⁺在离子成分中密度含量最高,当放电压力较高时(如67Pa),C₂H₅⁺在离子成分中占主导地位;除C₂H₅⁺外,其它各离子和激发态粒子在极板上的粒子流量随功率的增大逐渐升高.     

An overview of atomic and molecular processes in critical velocityionization

The authors present an overview of the time development of some atomic and molecular processes in critical ionization velocity (CIV). In the preonset stage, metastable states play an important role: they provide an energy pooling mechanism allowing low-energy electrons to participate in the ionization process; they may explain the low energy threshold was well as the fast time scale in the onset of CIV. For a sustaining CIV to occur, Townsend's criterion has to be satisfied. The kinetic energies of the neutrals are transformed to plasma wave energies via beam-plasma instabilities, and the plasma waves that heat the electron result in a tail formation. Excitation of neutrals with subsequent radiation is an important energy loss mechanism. Finite size also limits the instability growth rate. In the propagation of CIV, ion-molecule reactions and molecular dissociative recombination are important     

Anode plasma structure in a gas discharge with neutral density depleted by ionization

We consider the anode plasma structure in a gas discharge with density of neutral atoms (neutrals) depleted by strong ionization. We obtain analytical solutions of the quasi-neutrality equation for the potential distribution and a condition for the existence of anode plasma in the one-dimensional case for arbitrary potential dependences of the neutral depletion frequency and the electron density. We consider the special cases of a constant neutral depletion frequency, ionization by Maxwellian electrons, and ionization by an intense electron beam under the conditions of collisionless ion motion and Boltzmann thermal electron distribution. The solutions for the first two cases at zero depletion parameter, i.e., at constant gas density, match those obtained in [1] by a power series expansion. In the case of ionization by Maxwellian electrons, the formation of anode plasma at reasonable working-gas flow rates is shown to be possible only at a fairly high electron temperature (if, e.g., xenon is used as the working gas, then T _e ≥ 5 eV). Steady-state solutions of the quasi-neutrality equation under ionization by an intense electron beam exist only if the ratio of the electron beam density to the maximum thermal electron density does not exceed a certain limiting value.     

Excited atoms in argon gas discharge plasma

General principles are discussed for a gas discharge plasma involving excited atoms where electron-atom collision processes dominate. It is shown that an optimal kinetic model of this plasma at not large electric field strengths can be based on the rate constants of quenching excited atom states by electron impact. The self-consistent character of atom excitation in gas discharge plasma is important and results in the tail of the energy distribution function of electrons being affected by the excitation process, which in turn influences the excitation rate. These principles are applied to an argon gas discharge plasma where excitation and ionization processes have a stepwise character and proceed via formation of argon atom states with the electron shell 3p ⁵4s.     

X-Ray Measurements during Whistler-Mode Electron Cyclotron Resonance Plasma Startup and Heating in an Axisymmetric Magnetic Mirror

New measurements and analyses of whistler-mode electron cyclotron resonant heating (ECRH) startup and heating in an axisymmetric magnetic mirror are presented. Experimental studies of startup are presented which include the effects of initial neutral gas pressure on density and energy buildup rates, the effects of electron-beam-generated seed plasma on startup times, and a possible density threshold for the absolute whistler instability. Results of two types of analyses are presented. The first is a Fokker-Planck finite-element simulation the principal result of which is the prediction of the creation of a sloshing electron velocity distribution in the first 10 ?s after microwave power is applied. The second simulation uses rate equations to predict buildup, with rate coefficients based on a model sloshing-electron distribution function. Both results are consistent with experimental observations. Measurements of X-ray emission provided information about plasma transport, the sloshing electron spatial distribution, and the hot-electron average energy. The foil ratio technique gave average energies of 1-3 keV during whistler-mode ECRH, in agreement with afterglow measurements of hot electron decay. Possible applications of whistler-mode ECRH plasma production and heating are for plasma soft X-ray sources and plasma potential modification in tandem mirror machines.     

Kinetic simulations of argon dusty plasma afterglow including metastable atom kinetics

The afterglow of a dusty plasma of rf discharge in argon is simulated by the particle-in-cell-Monte Carlo collision (PIC-MCC) method. The experimental observation that heavy dust contamination of plasma leads to an anomalous increase in the electron density at the beginning of afterglow is explained by release of electrons from the dust surface. Under the assumption that the floating potential of particles is in equilibrium with plasma conditions, the fast cooling of electrons in afterglow plasma due to a rapid escape of hot electrons from the volume leads to a decrease in the magnitude of the floating potential and hence to a loss of charge by dust. The intensive desorption of electrons from nanoparticles is the origin of anomalous behavior of the electron density. At the next stage of afterglow, when the electrons become cool, the plasma decay is defined by ambipolar diffusion. The effect of metastable argon atoms is also considered. Additional ionization due to metastable atom collisions affects the electron temperature but does not change the behavior of the electron density qualitatively.     

Experimentelle und theoretische Untersuchungen von Nichtgleichgewichtseffekten an stationären Heliumplasmen unter Normaldruck

Measurements and calculations of temperature, densities and field-strength-current-characteristics of cascaded arcs (0.15 and 0.3 cm radius) burning in Helium under normal pressure are reported. It is shown that the evaluation of measured arc data assuming Saha equilibrium is not in agreement with the detailed solution of the balance equations. The temperature of electrons and heavy particles as well as the density of electrons and neutrals must be determined as independent variables from the rate equation for ground state neutrals, from the equation of state, and from the energy balance of the electron gas and of the total plasma. The latter equation can be replaced by relations between measured intensities and the state variables. The deviations from Saha equilibrium are mainly caused by diffusion of neutral particles into the arc core and of charged particles into the opposite direction. The theoretical results derived from the balance equations are compared with spectroscopic line intensity and line width measurements. The agreement is good even if the equilibrium conditions are strongly violated.