Levitation and dynamics of a collection of dust particles in afully ionized plasma sheath

Examines the dynamics of a collection of charged dust particles in the plasma sheath above a large body in a fully ionized space plasma when the radius of the large body is much larger than the sheath thickness. The dust particles are charged by the plasma, and the forces on the dust particles are assumed to be from the electric field in the sheath and from gravitation only. These forces will often act in opposite directions and may balance, making dust suspension and collection possible. The dust particles are supplied by injection or by electrostatic levitation. The ability of the sheath to collect dust particles, will be optimal for a certain combination of gravitation and plasma and dust particle parameters. In a dense dust sheath, the charges on the dust particles contribute significantly to the total space charge, and collective effects become important. These effects will reduce the magnitude of the sheath electric field strength and the charge on the dust particles. As dust particles are collected, the dust sheath is stretched and the largest dust particles may drop out, because the sheath is no longer able to suspend them. In a tenuous dust sheath, the inner layer, from the surface and about one Debye length thick, will be unstable for dust particle motion, and dust will not collect there. In a dense dust sheath, collective effects will decrease the thickness of this inner dust-free layer, making dust collection closer to the surface possible. By linearization of the force and current equations, the necessary and sufficient conditions for a stable dust sheath are found. The authors consider conditions which resemble those of planetary system bodies, but the results may also be of relevance to some laboratory plasmas     

Electric field in a double layer and the imparted momentum

It is shown that the net momentum delivered by the large electric field inside a one-dimensional double layer is zero. This is demonstrated through an analysis of the momentum balance in the double layer at the boundary between the ionosphere and the aurora cavity. For the recently observed double layer in a current-free plasma expanding along a divergent magnetic field, an analysis of the evolution of the radially averaged variables shows that the increase of plasma thrust results from the magnetic-field pressure balancing the plasma pressure in the direction of acceleration, rather than from electrostatic pressure.     

On the Boil-Off Time of Probe Surfaces in Plasmas

The time required for the melting of the surface of a glass-insulated probe inserted in a plasma is computed including the influence of plasma mass motion. This effect is relevant for probe measurements in moving current sheaths of electrical gas discharges. For dense plasma focus experiments, it is shown that the time of formation of a transition layer of evaporated material is shorter than the ion relaxation time in the plasma and the transit time of the current sheath by the probe position.     

Structure of the ground state of a nonsuperfluid dense quark-gluon plasma

The single-particle spectrum and momentum distribution of quasiparticles in a cold dense quark-gluon plasma are calculated within the Fermi liquid approach. It is shown that this system does not behave as a standard Fermi liquid: at zero temperature, the single-particle spectrum has a plateau at the Fermi surface, while the Fermi surface itself has a nonzero volume in momentum space.     

The Bohm criterion and boundary conditions for a multicomponentsystem

In the asymptotic limit λ_D→O (small Debye length) the boundary layer problem of a plasma is split up into the separate problems of a: quasineutral presheath and a collision free planar sheath. The formation of a stationary sheath requires that the ions fulfil a sheath condition (“Bohm criterion”). In this paper, the boundary layer problem of a multicomponent system is investigated. Both in the frames of a hydrodynamic and of a kinetic theory, a generalized sheath condition is derived accounting for various ion components and arbitrary electron- and ion distributions. It is shown that the sheath condition is usually fulfilled marginally (in the equality form) and provides a boundary condition for the plasma analysis     

Numerical solution of momentum balance equations for plasmas with two ion species

In plasmas bounded by material surfaces the Bohm criterion has to be satisfied at the entrance of the Debye sheath near the surface. With a single ion species this constraint prescribes a boundary condition for the momentum balance equation governing the ion mass velocity. If, however, several ion species are present a generalization of the Bohm criterion does not provide enough number of boundary conditions. Additional “intermediate” conditions follow from the requirement that spatial derivatives of the ion velocities are finite everywhere within the plasma volume. The amount of such independent conditions is sufficient to determine, in an iterative way, also the position in the plasma where they have to be imposed. A numerical approach to find unique regular solutions of fluid motion equations, satisfying the generalized Bohm criterion at the plasma boundary, is elaborated and realized for the case of two ion species.     

Nonlinear interaction of ultraintense laser pulse with relativistic thin plasma foil in the radiation pressure-dominant regime

We present a study of the effect of laser pulse temporal profile on the energy /momentum acquired by the ions as a result of the ultraintense laser pulse focussed on a thin plasma layer in the radiation pressure-dominant (RPD) regime. In the RPD regime, the plasma foil is pushed by ultraintense laser pulse when the radiation cannot propagate through the foil, while the electron and ion layers move together. The nonlinear character of laser–matter interaction is exhibited in the relativistic frequency shift, and also change in the wave amplitude as the EM wave gets reflected by the relativistically moving thin dense plasma layer. Relativistic effects in a high-energy plasma provide matching conditions that make it possible to exchange very effectively ordered kinetic energy and momentum between the EM fields and the plasma. When matter moves at relativistic velocities, the efficiency of the energy transfer from the radiation to thin plasma foil is more than 30% and in ultrarelativistic case it approaches one. The momentum /energy transfer to the ions is found to depend on the temporal profile of the laser pulse. Our numerical results show that for the same laser and plasma parameters, a Lorentzian pulse can accelerate ions upto 0.2 GeV within 10 fs which is 1.5 times larger than that a Gaussian pulse can.     

Dependence of resonance condition on pressure in an RF resonancemethod

The plasma density is shown as functions of pressure and magnetic flux density in an RF resonance method using the XPDP1 simulation code. The RF resonance method has the unique feature that a strong electric field in bulk controls the plasma density. Owing to the balance between the electric field decrease and the collision rate increase, the plasma density in the RF resonance method has a peak with respect to pressure. The plasma density with respect to the magnetic flux density depends on the condition of the RF resonance method, and the dependence is strong at low pressure because of the strong resonance. Sheath thickness is the most important parameter that determines the strength of the resonance induced. It is shown that the sheath thickness s is related to the plasma density n as a function of ns, obtained from a dispersion relation at constant external parameters. The magnetic flux density which induces the strong resonance is determined from sheath thickness. The plasma density in the RF resonance method can be predicted from discharge parameters using the relation between plasma density and sheath thickness     

Author's reply to "Good news: you can patch active plasma and collisionless sheath"

Godyak and Sternberg (2003) reassert their contention that one can obtain a satisfactory physical solution to the active plasma-collisionless sheath by patching together plasma and sheath. They choose to do it at an arbitrary point where the sheath electric field is kT/sub e/ /e/spl lambda//sub D/. If one tacks their sheath solution to the full plasma solution, then the field is infinity on the plasma side and finite on the sheath side. Alternatively, if one terminates the plasma solution where the plasma field is kT/sub e//e/spl lambda//sub D/, then one has continuity of electric field, but not of its gradient, since on the sheath side it is zero and on the plasma side of order L//spl lambda//sub D/, where L is the size of the plasma. Furthermore, in achieving continuity of the field, one has introduced discontinuities in the ion speed and in the particle densities. Thus, in no sense is a joining which denies the existence of a transition layer, smooth. J. Ockendon and H. Ockendon, my colleagues in the production of our paper describing the transition layer (Franklin et al., 1970), privately expressed disappointment in not finding a proof of the existence and uniqueness of our solution. Such a formal mathematical proof has been given recently by Slemrod (2002). Smooth joining of active plasma and collisionless sheath within the context of a fluid model or free fall model of the ion motion, does require a transition layer and of length scale intermediate between L and /spl lambda//sub D/.     

Hot Ion Production in a Modified Penning Discharge

Ions with Maxwellian energy distributions and kinetic temperatures up to seven keV have been observed in a modified Penning discharge. Investigation of the plasma revealed two distinct spoke-like concentrations of charge, consisting respectively of ions and electrons, rotating with different velocities in the sheath between the plasma and the anode ring. Theoretical expressions are derived for the frequency of the ion and electron spoke rotation, for the ion kinetic temperature resulting from the ion spoke velocity, and for the ion heating efficiency. An extensive series of experimental measurements were made to check these theoretical expressions, and approximate agreement was obtained. It is shown that the ion kinetic temperature in the modified Penning discharge scales according to the relation Vi ~ Vani1/4/B1/2 where Va is the applied anode voltage, ni is the ion density in the sheath, and B is the magnetic field strength. The observed data demonstrate that the ion heating efficiency can be as high as several tens of percent.     

The Double Sheath at the Plasma‐Wall Boundary

The relation between plasma parameters determining a steady‐state charged sheath at a plasma‐wall boundary was derived and analyzed using a fluid model, which accounted for inertia and partial pressure of both plasma components. The relation generalizes the well‐known Bohm criterion and, in particular, shows that a steadystate sheath may be formed in some cases where the Bohm criterion is not satisfied. Conditions allowing formation of a double sheath structure were formulated and analyzed. It was shown that the structure may be formed only if a) the generalized Bohm criterion is satisfied, and b) the Sagdeev potential has a minimum. The double sheath structure consists of two sub‐sheath of different polarity, which depends on the wall potential polarity and the relation between the plasma component temperatures and inertia. For positive wall potential, the sub‐sheath adjacent to the plasma (the sheath edge) is enriched by negative particles, and the sub‐sheath adjacent to the wall is enriched by positive particles, while the sub‐sheath polarities are reversed for negative wall potential. An analytical theory was formulated and illustrated by numerical solutions of the Poisson equation for special cases. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Faraday Rotation of Overdense Magnetized Plasma

In this study, we investigate Faraday rotation of electromagnetic waves that are anomalously transmitted through an over‐dense magnetized plasma layer. Here, magnetized plasma indicates that the plasma layer is immersed in a uniform magnetic field. Firstly, normally opaque over‐dense magnetized plasma is shown to be transparent to obliquely incident electromagnetic waves. This high transparency can be achieved by providing conditions for resonant excitations of plasmonic modes. The resonant characteristics of the transmission coefficient of the considered structure are determined and discussed. The conditions under which the magnetized plasma behaves as a complete reflector are also obtained. Faraday rotation is shown to be enhanced under high transparency conditions. The reflected wave also exhibits Faraday rotation and is enhanced under total reflection conditions. (© 2015 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

负偏压离子鞘及气体压强影响表面波放电过程的粒子模拟

由于表面电磁波沿着介质-等离子体分界面传播,而很难通过对传统的表面波等离子体(SWP)源施加负偏压实现金属材料溅射,因此限制了SWP源的使用范围.近期,一种基于负偏压离子鞘导波的SWP源克服了这个问题,且其加热机理是表面等离激元(SPP)的局域增强电场激励气体放电产生.但是该SWP源放电过程的影响因素并未研究清晰,导致其最佳放电条件没有获得.本文采用粒子(PIC)和蒙特卡罗碰撞(MCC)相结合的模拟方法,探讨了负偏压离子鞘及气体压强影响SWP电离发展过程的放电机理.模拟结果表明,负偏压和气体压强的大小影响了离子鞘的厚度、SPP的激励和波模的时空转化,从而表现出不同的放电形貌.进一步分析确定,在负偏压200 V左右和气体压强40 Pa附近,该SWP源的放电效果最佳.     

Enhancement of ohmic and stochastic heating by resonance effects in capacitive radio frequency discharges: a theoretical approach

In low-pressure capacitive radio frequency discharges, two mechanisms of electron heating are dominant: (i) Ohmic heating due to collisions of electrons with neutrals of the background gas and (ii) stochastic heating due to momentum transfer from the oscillating boundary sheath. In this work we show by means of a nonlinear global model that the self-excitation of the plasma series resonance which arises in asymmetric capacitive discharges due to nonlinear interaction of plasma bulk and sheath significantly affects both Ohmic heating and stochastic heating. We observe that the series resonance effect increases the dissipation by factors of 2-5. We conclude that the nonlinear plasma dynamics should be taken into account in order to describe quantitatively correct electron heating in asymmetric capacitive radio frequency discharges.     

Energy and momentum losses in the process of neutrino scattering on plasma electrons in the presence of a magnetic field

The neutrino-electron scattering in a dense degenerate magnetized plasma under the conditions μ ² > 2eB ≫ μE is investigated. The volume density of the neutrino energy and momentum losses due to this process are calculated. The results we have obtained demonstrate that plasma in the presence of an external magnetic field is more transparent for neutrino than for non-magnetized plasma. It is shown that neutrino scattering under conditions considered does not lead to the neutrino force acting on plasma.     

Ion emission from a hollow-cathode discharge with the plasma penetrating into the high-voltage acceleration gap

The general features of ion emission from a gas-discharge plasma are considered under conditions such that the plasma penetrates into the acceleration gap. It is found that the wall sheath limiting the open plasma surface substantially affects the stability of the penetrating plasma. It is shown that there are two plasma states with different positions of the plasma boundary. The stable state corresponds to the inequality r/R > 0.54, where r is the plasma radius in the accelerating electrode and R is the radius of the aperture of the accelerating electrode. It is shown that the plasma-sheath system within the aperture of the accelerating electrode can exist only if the voltage drop across the sheath does not exceed a certain limiting voltage, which depends on the plasma parameters.     

Two-dimensional particle-in-cell plasma source ion implantation of a prolate spheroid target

A two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulation is used to study the time-dependent evolution of the sheath surrounding a prolate spheroid target during a high voltage pulse in plasma source ion implantation. Our study shows that the potential contour lines pack more closely in the plasma sheath near the vertex of the major axis, i.e. where a thinner sheath is formed, and a non-uniform total ion dose distribution is incident along the surface of the prolate spheroid target due to the focusing of ions by the potential structure. Ion focusing takes place not only at the vertex of the major axis, where dense potential contour lines exist, but also at the vertex of the minor axis, where sparse contour lines exist. This results in two peaks of the received ion dose, locating at the vertices of the major and minor axes of the prolate spheroid target, and an ion dose valley, staying always between the vertices, rather than at the vertex of the minor axis.     

Observation of spontaneous toroidal rotation inversion in Ohmically heated Tokamak plasmas

Bulk plasma toroidal rotation is observed to invert spontaneously from counter to cocurrent direction in TCV (Tokamak à Configuration Variable) Ohmically heated discharges, in low confinement mode, without momentum input. The inversion occurs in high current discharges, when the plasma electron density exceeds a well-defined threshold. The transition between the two rotational regimes has been studied by means of density ramps. The results provide evidence of a change of the balance of nondiffusive momentum fluxes in the core of a plasma without an external drive.     

Nonexponential temperature dependence of the rate of threshold inelastic processes in dense media

The influence of the density of the medium on the temperature dependence of the rate constants of inelastic processes is investigated. It is shown that besides the effects like lowering of the ionization potential, which accelerate excitation and ionization processes in a nonideal plasma, there is a stronger mechanism for such acceleration, which is associated with the high frequency of collisions between particles and leads to destruction of the one-to-one relation between the energy and momentum of the particles in a dense medium. It is manifested by the presence of power-law tails in the equilibrium momentum distribution of the particles, which leads to a nonexponential temperature dependence of the rates of inelastic reactions in dense gases and nonideal plasmas. A kinetic equation for the generalized energy and momentum distribution function of electrons in an external electric field, which permits investigation of the effect under consideration under nonequilibrium conditions, is presented. Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 113, 1661–1674 (May 1998)     

Observations of vacuum spark dynamics from its X-ray emission

The behavior of a medium energy (~1 kJ) pulse-power-driven vacuum spark is shown to depend on the electrode material and form of the anode in otherwise similar conditions of operation. The dynamical evolution of the discharge is followed from its soft X-ray emission. The electrode materials compared are titanium and aluminum with a form of anode that is tubular or conical. The use of a tubular anode favors a more uniform sheath and a better formation of a dense Z-pinch and the ensuing hot spots are found to be at least twice as bright. The position of the brightest spots differs according to the material and the electrode shape, and is found to coincide with the shape of the sheath. The energy output is measured and the density of the plasma in the hot spots may be calculated