Hybrid computer simulations: electrical charging of dust particles in low-temperature plasma

This paper is focused on the study of the electrical charging process of micron-sized particles immersed into low-temperature argon plasma by the methods of computer modelling. The hybrid computer simulations are performed for a set of particles with the radius up to in order to determine the dependence of the electric charge on the surface of the particulate on its radius. This dependence seems to be linear. The distribution of the electric potential in the vicinity of the particulate is obtained from the fluid model. Afterwards, the non self-consistent particle simulation is performed in order to determine both the reaction rates and the electric charge on the surface of the particulate. The most important collision processes of charged particles in plasma and the appropriate dependence of the collision cross-section on the particle energy are considered (elastic scattering of electrons on neutrals, excitation of neutrals into all important energetic states, ionisation of Argon atoms by fast electrons, elastic scattering of positively charged ions etc.). The presented algorithm provides an effective way, how the key quantity in dusty plasma physics – electric charge on the surface of the particulate – can be determined.     

Effect of electron inertia on large amplitude solitary waves in presence of kinematic viscosity in dusty plasma

Nonlinear dust acoustic solitary waves in a dusty plasma are studied for nonzero kinematic viscosity. Sagdeev’s potential can be obtain upto any order in ϕ. The existence of soliton solution is determined by pseudopotential approach. It is seen that the electron inertia has a significant effect on the existence of solitary waves in presence of kinematic viscosity.     

Computational study of plasma-solid interaction in argon plasma with inclusion of magnetic field

In the presented contribution two groups of techniques of computational physics were used for the study of sheath structure in the DC glow discharge in argon plasma – the fluid modelling describing macroscopic plasma phenomena and the particle modelling providing more detailed insight into the plasma processes. A comparison of different computational methods is given with attention to the efficiency of computer codes in two dimensions. Another point of interest is the inclusion of external magnetic field into the models and its effect on the sheath structure.     

A fluid model of the current-voltage characteristics of an electron emitting electrode immersed in a two electron temperature plasma

The current voltage characteristics of a negatively biased electron emitting electrode immersed in a two-electron temperature plasma are analyzed by a simple one dimensional fluid model. Based on the assumption that the electron density in the pre-sheath region obeys the Boltzmann law the Bohm criterion is derived in the form of a transcendental equation for the Mach number, which can have up to 3 solutions. According to these solutions the ion velocity at the sheath edge can be determined either by the hot or by the cool electron temperature. When it is determined by the cool electron temperature and the hot electron temperature is high enough the critical electron emission current from the collector can have a very pronounced local maximum and a minimum when regarded as a function of the electrode potential. Because of that the current voltage characteristics of the electrode may exhibit up to 3 different floating potentials. This result is in good agreement with the experimental observations reported in [J. Appl. Phys. 63, 5674 (1988)].     

Pre-sheath formation in an oblique magnetic field: fluid model and PIC simulation

We present some results of a one-dimensional fluid model with a floating electrode immersed in plasma with magnetic field applied at an oblique angle. The model equations are integrated numerically in order to find the space profiles of the ion velocities and electrostatic potential for various strenghts and angles of the magnetic field. We assume a collisionless magnetized pre-sheath with isothermal ions. The results are then compared with the spatial profiles obtained by a computer simulation. We use a BIT1 particle-in-cell code. The simulations input parameters are chosen in the way, that they resemble the fluid model as much as possible. Because the results of the simulation are given in the absolute SI units, they have to be normalized correctly. We evaluate the model results and compare them with the computer simulation results. Special attention is brought on formation of the pre-sheath with magnetic field applied at intermediate angles. The results of the simulation are in good qualitative agreement with the model.     

On existence of the spatial charge layers in plasma with regions of rapid growth of the ionization rate

1D quasi-static self-consistent model of nonequilibrium nitrogen and oxygen plasma with highly non-uniform spatial distribution of the electric field strength is used for analysis of the correlation of ionization rate profile and charged particles profiles. It is shown that inside a region of local increase of the ionization rate the layers with violation of quasi-neutrality can exist. This leads to the appearance of local static electric fields. Special attention is devoted to plasma resonance regions in microwave plasma. The role of negative ions is also studied.     

Physisorption kinetics of electrons at plasma boundaries

Plasma-boundaries floating in an ionized gas are usually negatively charged. They accumulate electrons more efficiently than ions leading to the formation of a quasi-stationary electron film at the boundaries. We propose to interpret the build-up of surface charges at inert plasma boundaries, where other surface modifications, for instance, implantation of particles and reconstruction or destruction of the surface due to impact of high energy particles can be neglected, as a physisorption process in front of the wall. The electron sticking coefficient s_e and the electron desorption time τ_e, which play an important role in determining the quasi-stationary surface charge, and about which little is empirically and theoretically known, can then be calculated from microscopic models for the electron-wall interaction. Irrespective of the sophistication of the models, the static part of the electron-wall interaction determines the binding energy of the electron, whereas inelastic processes at the wall determine s_e and τ_e. As an illustration, we calculate s_e and τ_e for a metal, using the simplest model in which the static part of the electron-metal interaction is approximated by the classical image potential. Assuming electrons from the plasma to loose (gain) energy at the surface by creating (annihilating) electron-hole pairs in the metal, which is treated as a jellium half-space with an infinitely high workfunction, we obtain s_e≈10^-4 and τ_e≈10^-2 s. The product s_eτ_e≈10^-6 s has the order of magnitude expected from our earlier results for the charge of dust particles in a plasma but individually s_e is unexpectedly small and τ_e is somewhat large. The former is a consequence of the small matrix elements occurring in the simple model while the latter is due to the large binding energy of the electron. More sophisticated theoretical investigations, but also experimental support, are clearly needed because if s_e is indeed as small as our exploratory calculation suggests, it would have severe consequences for the understanding of the formation of surface charges at plasma boundaries. To identify what we believe are key issues of the electronic microphysics at inert plasma boundaries and to inspire other groups to join us on our journey is the purpose of this colloquial presentation.     

Effect of electron magnetic trapping in a plasma immersion ion implantation system

In this work we describe a two-dimensional computer simulation of magnetic field enhanced plasma immersion implantation system. Negative bias voltage of 10.0 kV is applied to a cylindrical target located on the axis of a grounded vacuum chamber filled with uniform nitrogen plasma. A pair of external coils creates a static magnetic field with main vector component along the axial direction. Thus, a system of crossed E×B field is generated inside the vessel forcing plasma electrons to rotate in azimuthal direction. In addition, the axial variation of the magnetic field intensity produces magnetic mirror effect that enables axial particle confinement. It is found that high-density plasma regions are formed around the target due to intense background gas ionization by the trapped electrons. Effect of the magnetic field on the sheath dynamics and the implantation current density of the PIII system is investigated. By changing the magnetic field axial profile (varying coils separation) an enhancement of about 30% of the retained dose can be achieved. The results of the simulation show that the magnetic mirror configuration brings additional benefits to the PIII process, permitting more precise control of the implanted dose.     

Potential formation in a bounded two-electron temperature plasma system with floating collector that emits electrons

Formation of the plasma potential in a plasma that contains energetic electrons and is bounded by a floating collector that emits electrons is studied theoretically. The problem is treated by a static. kinetic plasma-sheath model of Schwager and Birdsall [Phys. Fluids B2 (1990) 1057], which we have extended in order to include additional energetic electron population. The distribution of these electrons is assumed to be a high-temperature Maxwellian. They are called hot electrons. In the paper we study effects of the density and temperature of the hot electrons on the formation of the plasma potential. The model shows that for certain densities and temperatures of the hot electron population plasmas with two different plasma potentials can coexist in the system. These two plasmas are separated spatially by a double layer. For the case when there is no emission of electrons from the collector, results of the model are compared with computer simulation and very good agreement between the model and the simulation is found. The simulation also confirms existence of two plasmas with two different potentials separated by a double layer.     

Streaming instability in quantum dusty plasmas

By using a quantum hydrodynamic (QHD) model, we derive a generalized dielectric constant for an unmagnetized quantum dusty plasma composed of electrons, ions, and charged dust particulates. Neglecting the electron inertial force in comparison with the electron pressure, and the force associated with the electron correlations at a quantum scale, we discuss two classes of electrostatic instabilities that are produced by streaming ions, and dust grains. The effects of the plasma streaming speeds, the thermal speed of electrons, and the quantum parameter are examined on the growth rates. The relevance of our investigation to dense astrophysical plasmas is discussed.     

Isotopic dependence of electron screening in fusion reactions

The fusion reactions⁶Li(p, )³He,⁶Li(d, )⁴He, and⁷Li(p, )⁴He have been studied over the c.m. energy rangeE=10 to 1450 keV. Each reaction involved the use of hydrogen projectiles and LiF solid targets as well as Li projectiles and hydrogen molecular gas targets. In all cases the effects of electron screening on the low-energy fusion cross sections (exponential enhancement) have been observed; the effects are somewhat stronger in the case of atomicp ord projectiles compared to the case of molecularH ₂ orD ₂ gas targets. If isotopic effects on electron screening are negligible, all three reactions should exhibit the same enhancements for each set of experimental techniques. The measurements confirmed this expectation to a large extent.Supported in part by the Landesamt Nordrhein-Westfalen (IVA5-10600387), the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Ro429/ 18-2 and Ro429/21-1), and the Comision Interministerial de Ciencia y Tecnologia (AEN90-0932)     

Features of materials alloying under exposures to pulsed plasma streams

Surface modifications and features of materials alloying under pulsed plasma exposures are investigated in this paper. The experiments were carried out with a pulsed plasma gun, which generates plasma streams with ion energies of up to 2 keV, a plasma density of (2–, an average specific power of 10 MW/cm² and plasma energy densities in the range of (5–. Nitrogen, helium, hydrogen, oxygen and different mixtures can be used as working gases. Modification of thin (1–2 μm) PVD coatings of molybdenum coating mixed with substrate in liquid phase under the pulsed plasma processing are analyzed. After alloying of ferritic/martensitic steel EP-823 with Mo the concentration of molybdenum in the modified layer of 15–20 μm achieved 20% for single treatment cycle and 30% after two cycles. Decrease of grain sizes (from tens of μm to hundreds of nm), roughness and porosity were obtained by plasma irradiation of thick (~0.1–0.3 mm) plasma sprayed coatings of Co-32Ni-21Cr-8Al-0.5Y and Ti64. A modified layer with homogeneous structure and thickness up to 50 μm is formed as a result of plasma treatment. Mechanisms of surface modification of WC-Co under irradiation with pulsed plasma streams of different ions are discussed.     

Study of fast target protons in high energy hadron-nucleus collisions

Intranuclear cascade model calculations are carried out on the recent measurements (WA80 Collaborations) for the multiplicity, energy and angular distributions of singly charged target fragments of energy in the range 30 E < 400=" mev=" (the=" so-called=" grey=" particles)=" produced=" in=" proton-nucleus=" interactions=" at=" 200=" gev/c.=" it=" is=" shown=" that=" these=" distributions=" are=" reasonably=" well=" understood=" in=" terms=" of=" the=" intranuclear=" cascade=" model=" which=" considers=" that=" grey=" particles=" are=" only=" produced=" in=" the=" first=" two=" generations=" of=" the=" cascade.=" the=" obtained=" distributions,=" mean=" values=" and=" target=" mass=" dependence=" are=" more=" consistent=" with=" the=" experimental=" data=" than=" other=" models=" using=" monte=" carlo=">     

Transverse energy distributions in participant number model for ultra-relativistic heavy-ion collisions

The transverse energy distribution in ultra-relativistic heavy-ion collisions has been obtained as a convolution over the number of projectile and target participants. The latter is computed using the geometrical overlap model as a function of impact parameter. The data from 10 A GeV to 200 A GeV heavy ion beams on various targets in different pseudo-rapidity domains have been successfully described.     

Partition of excitation energy between reaction products in heavy ion collisions

In the single-particle approach a partition of the excitation energy between the reaction products in deep inelastic collisions of heavy ions are investigated. The role of the particle-hole excitations and the nucleon exchange is considered. The ratio of the projectile excitation energy to the total excitation energy for the reactions²³⁸U(1468 MeV)+¹²⁴Sn,²³⁸U(1398 MeV)+¹¹⁰Pd,⁵⁶Fe(505MeV)+¹⁶⁵Ho,⁷⁴Ge (629 MeV)+¹⁶⁵Ho and⁶⁸Ni(880 MeV)+¹⁹⁷Au is calculated. The results of calculations are in good agreement with the experimental data.We are grateful to Dr. N.V. Antonenko for valuable discussions. This work was supported partly by the Russian Minister for Education and Research under the Grant N2-61-13-28.     

Diode end pumped Nd:YAG laser at 946 nm with high pulse energy limited by thermal lensing

Diode lasers with peak powers in the kW range and pulse durations of micro- to milli-seconds have been available since several years. Pumping solid state lasers with such sources yield high output pulse energies in spiking or Q-switched operation. The output energy is limited by the thermal lens effects, which are measured and calculated. The time dependent heat conduction equation in the laser crystal is solved numerically to predict the overall temperature rise and thermal lensing. The thermally induced optical path difference is approximated by a quadratic distribution to obtain the focal length f of the thermal lens. The thermal lens coefficient K=1/(f⋅P _av), which depends only weakly on the heat transfer coefficient H of the laser crystal to the heat sink, decreases exponentially with increasing pump frequency until the steady state is reached. Experiments were done with a Nd:YAG crystal at different pump frequencies up to 100 Hz. The thermal lens coefficients obtained by the power maxima of asymmetric flat-flat resonators agree with our calculations.     

Investigations of electron beam characteristics using an accelerator based on a magnetron gun with a secondary-emission cathode

The reliability and service life of accelerating installations are substantially determined by the lifetime of electron sources. The accelerator under consideration has a magnetron gun with a channel-free cold secondary-emission cathode in crossed fields as an electron source [1, 2]. In the present work, the data of the electron beam parameters obtained in the accelerator based on the magnetron gun with a secondary-emission cathode are given, and possible secondary uses are suggested. The text was submitted by the authors in English.