Radial charge density distribution in the positive column under ion-neutral reaction conditions

An analytical relation which describes the radial distribution of the charge density in the positive column is derived taking into account the ion-neutral reaction. The theoretical results predict a deviation from the Scottky curve under ion-neutral reaction conditions.     

Time resolved measurements in the Ne positive column IV. Study of the electron distribution function in low-pressure arc

With the help of the direct display method the measurements of the electron distribution function in the stratified low-pressure arc in Ne have been made. No departure of the distribution function from Maxwellian shape has been found in the small amplitude ionisation waves.Ke Karlovu 5, Praha 2, Czechoslovakia.The author desires to acknowledge the support afforded to him by Prof. Dr. V. Kunzl and his coworkers, Doc. Dr. M. ícha, CSc. and Dr. V. ezáová.     

Influence of second kind collisions on the electron distribution function in the positive column of low pressure nitrogen discharge

A numerical solution of the Boltzmann equation for the electron gas in the positive column of a DC discharge in nitrogen is presented. The Boltzmann equation was solved with the inclusion of the second kind (superelastic) collisions proceeding from the first six excited vibrational levels of molecular nitrogen. The vibrational level population is supposed to follow a Boltzmann distribution for a given vibrational temperatureT _v, with a possible deviation of the ground level, which can be overpopulated in a given ratio. Apart from the electron distribution functions, which were gained for various values ofE/p ₀,T _v and, the values of some production frequencies and kinetic coefficients are presented in form of tables and plots. It is found that the electron distribution (and also the corresponding production rates) depends above a certain energy limit onT _v and through the normalization constant only.     

四阳极直流辉光放电正柱区数值分析

分析了具有中间开窗电极四阳极直流辉光放电装置的氦气放电中阴极与较近阳极间放电正柱区的电子密度、电子温度和等离子体碰撞频率, 及其空间分布随放电气压变化规律。结果表明电子密度在径向上呈类似于抛物线的分布, 而碰撞频率和电子温度在整个放电管内近似均匀分布。探讨了不锈钢阳极座和矩形窗口对这些参数的影响, 为进一步进行装置仿真和实验研究提供参考。     

Analysis of dusty plasma in the positive column of glow discharges

The radial distributions of ions,electrons and dust particles in the positive colum of glow discharges are investigated in a tripled-pole diffusion model.The dust particles are mainly trapped in the region around the column axis where the electrostatic potential is the highest.The presence of the dust particles results in the ion density increasing and the electron density decreasiung in the dust-trapped region.The dust-trapped region is wider for a higher dust temperature or a smaller particulate redius.The ions and electrons in the dust-free region away from the column axis are in ambipolar diffusion.     

On the electron energy distribution in the gas discharge positive column: Langmuir paradox

The results of calculations of electron drift characteristics in a dc spatially inhomogeneous periodic electric field are presented. It is shown that the effect of field inhomogeneities on the drift velocity and the average electron energy is insignificant under typical conditions of experiments with gas-discharge plasma at low gas pressures. However, the intensity of the processes of excitation, ionization, and plasma spatial distribution are strongly affected by the inhomogeneity (variance) and field variation behavior. It is shown that the electric field inhomogeneity in the gas discharge positive column leads to maxwellization of the electron energy distribution function.     

The reliability of measurements on electron energy distribution function in silane rf glow discharges

Electron energy distribution function (EEDF) is a key parameter of plasmas, which is directly proportional to the second derivative of the probe I-V characteristics. Because of an amplifying effect of unavoidable noises in the experimental probe I-V curves during the derivation process, the experimental I-V curves should be smoothed before performing the numerical derivation. This paper investigates the effect of adjustable factors used in the smoothing process on the deduced second derivative of the I-V curves, and an optimum group of the adjustable factors is selected to make the rms deviation of the smoothed I-V curves from the measured curves less than 1%. A simple differentiation circuit is designed and used to measure the EEDF parameter straightforwardly. It is the first time, so far as we know, to measure the EEDF parameters simultaneously by means of both numerical and circuit derivative methods under the same discharge conditions and on the same discharge equipment. The deviation between two groups of mean electron energy E and electron density n_e obtained by the above different methods is within about 7%. This apparently improves the reliability of the measurements of the EEDF parameters.     

Experimental and theoretical investigation into the effect of the electron velocity distribution on chaotic oscillations in an electron beam under virtual cathode formation conditions

The effect of the electron transverse and longitudinal velocity spread at the entrance to the interaction space on wide-band chaotic oscillations in intense multiple-velocity beams is studied theoretically and numerically under the conditions of formation of a virtual cathode. It is found that an increase in the electron velocity spread causes chaotization of virtual cathode oscillations. An insight into physical processes taking place in a virtual-cathode multiple-velocity beam is gained by numerical simulation. The chaotization of the oscillations is shown to be associated with additional electron structures, which were separated out by constructing charged particle distribution functions.     

A theory of the positive column constriction in the noble gas discharges at medium pressures

A theory explaining the positive column constriction in terms of a thermal effect is presented. As a consequence of the heating the neutral gas becomes more rarified near the tube axis and a locally increased molecular ion production ensues. If this is balanced by the dissociative (volume) recombination a constriction results at higher currents and pressures. The density profiles and other physical quantities are computed and compared with the available experimental data. All computations are performed for a non-Maxwellian plasma with the electron Coulomb interaction neglected. In contrast to the theories based on an ionization mechanism the thermal theory predicts also a constriction of the density profile.     

Spatial distribution of electron characteristic in argon rf glow discharges

The spatial distributions of the electron density and the mean electron energy of argon radio frequency (rf) glow discharge plasma in a plasma-enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECVD) system have been investigated using an established movable Langmuir probe. The results indicate that in the axial direction the electron density tends to peak at midway between the two electrodes while the axial variation trend of mean electron energy is different from that of the electron density, the mean electron energy is high near the electrodes. And the mean electron energy near the cathode is much higher than that near the anode. This article focuses on the radial distribution of electron density and mean electron energy. A proposed theoretical model distribution agrees well with the experimental one: the electron density and the mean electron energy both increase from the centre of the glow to the edge of electrodes. This is useful for better understanding the discharge mechanism and searching for a better deposition condition to improve thin film quality.     

Quenching electron runaway in positive high-voltage-impulse discharges in air by laser filaments

Strong hard (ε>100 keV) x rays being observed from impulse atmospheric discharges with maximal voltages from U=0.5 to 0.9 MV just before the breakdown were completely stopped with the use of femtosecond-laser-filament plasma. Runaway electrons generating such x rays and being estimated to achieve their maximal energy, ε~U, near the positive electrode disappear if a laser filament plasma is ignited perpendicularly to the runaway near the positive electrode. A preheating mechanism for formation of the electron runaway in air is proposed.     

Violation of the boltzmann distribution for plasma electron number density in two-chamber inductively coupled plasma discharges

It is found for inductively coupled plasma (ICP) discharges in two-chamber structures in which a strong electron temperature gradient can be produced, the classical Boltzmann distribution for the electron number density does not exist even at qualitative level; a more general (extended Boltzmann) distribution for the electron energy density holds with a satisfactory accuracy.     

Sheath formation in the presence of non-extensive electron distribution

The main aim of this article is to recognize the sheath formation in the presence of non-extensive electron distribution. The role of ion–neutral collision parameter K and the non-extensive parameter “q” has been discussed. Existing literature suggests that the presence of non-extensive electrons potentially modifies the plasma sheath behaviour. However, numerical calculations over the full plasma range, jointly addressing the sheath and presheath, are rare. Sheath formation, being a very fundamental phenomenon, deserves enough investigation in the region of non-extensive distribution of particles. This study attempts to bridge the gap in understanding the formation of the sheath in collisional plasma in the light of both Boltzmann and q-distributed non-extensive electrons.     

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.     

Gas formation in liquid hydrocarbon dielectrics under the action of particle discharges

A study is performed of destruction of the hydrocarbon liquid n-nonane under the action of particle discharges in a test cell with needle-plane electrode system. The process of gas formation is studied, and the products of electrical aging are identified.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 4, pp. 24–27, April, 1986.     

不同条件下大气压脉冲弥散放电特性

利用上升沿约0.5 s、半高宽约6 s、幅值可达40 kV的微秒脉冲电源和上升沿约150 ns、半高宽约300 ns、幅值可达50 kV的纳秒脉冲电源激励大气压弥散放电,并分别采用刀型和锯齿电极放电。通过电压电流测量和发光图像拍摄,改变施加电压种类、脉冲重复频率、高压电极结构和气隙距离等参数,研究了不同条件下弥散放电特性。实验结果表明：纳秒脉冲电源和微秒脉冲电源均能在大气压空气中激励大面积的弥散放电,弥散放电面积最大达90 cm2;放电的均匀性受脉冲参数与电极形状影响显著,其中刀型电极条件下纳秒脉冲激励的弥散放电均匀性最佳;相同条件下纳秒脉冲弥散放电的瞬时功率大于微秒脉冲弥散放电,最高可达275 kW,而纳秒脉冲弥散放电的能量小于微秒脉冲弥散放电;保持其他条件不变,弥散放电传导电流幅值随着气隙距离的增加而降低,放电强度随着脉冲重复频率的增加而增强,弥散放电的工作电压范围随着脉冲重复频率的增加显著降低。因此在低频、刀型电极结构中易于获得均匀与较大工作电压范围的大气压弥散放电。     

不同条件下大气压脉冲弥散放电特性

利用上升沿约0.5 s、半高宽约6 s、幅值可达40 kV的微秒脉冲电源和上升沿约150 ns、半高宽约300 ns、幅值可达50 kV的纳秒脉冲电源激励大气压弥散放电,并分别采用刀型和锯齿电极放电。通过电压电流测量和发光图像拍摄,改变施加电压种类、脉冲重复频率、高压电极结构和气隙距离等参数,研究了不同条件下弥散放电特性。实验结果表明:纳秒脉冲电源和微秒脉冲电源均能在大气压空气中激励大面积的弥散放电,弥散放电面积最大达90 cm2;放电的均匀性受脉冲参数与电极形状影响显著,其中刀型电极条件下纳秒脉冲激励的弥散放电均匀性最佳;相同条件下纳秒脉冲弥散放电的瞬时功率大于微秒脉冲弥散放电,最高可达275 kW,而纳秒脉冲弥散放电的能量小于微秒脉冲弥散放电;保持其他条件不变,弥散放电传导电流幅值随着气隙距离的增加而降低,放电强度随着脉冲重复频率的增加而增强,弥散放电的工作电压范围随着脉冲重复频率的增加显著降低。因此在低频、刀型电极结构中易于获得均匀与较大工作电压范围的大气压弥散放电。     

Apparatus for the electron energy distribution function measurement in the afterglow discharge

A method for measuring the second derivative of the Langmuir probe characteristic in plasma with fast varying parameters is described. Discussion about its applicability and the results of measurements in the Ne afterglow are given.The author wishes to acknowledge the support afforded him by Doc. Dr. M.ícha, CSc. and J.Glosík.