Changes of the electron dynamics in hydrogen inductively coupled plasma

Changes of the electron dynamics in hydrogen （H2） radio-frequency （RF） inductively coupled plasmas are investigated using a hairpin probe and an intensified charged coupled device （ICCD）. The electron density, plasma emission intensity, and input current （voltage） are measured during the E to H mode transitions at different pressures. It is found that the electron density, plasma emission intensity, and input current jump up discontinuously, and the input voltage jumps down at the E to H mode transition points. And the threshold power of the E to H mode transition decreases with the increase of the pressure. Moreover, space and phase resolved optical emission spectroscopic measurements reveal that, in the E mode, the RF dynamics is characterized by one dominant excitation per RF cycle, while in the H mode, there are two excitation maxima within one cycle.     

Discontinuity of mode transition and hysteresis in hydrogen inductively coupled plasma via a fluid model

A new type of two-dimensional self-consistent fluid model that couples an equivalent circuit module is used to investigate the mode transition characteristics and hysteresis in hydrogen inductively coupled plasmas at different pressures,by varying the series capacitance of the matching box. The variations of the electron density, temperature, and the circuit electrical properties are presented. As cycling the matching capacitance, at high pressure both the discontinuity and hysteresis appear for the plasma parameters and the transferred impedances of both the inductive and capacitive discharge components, while at low pressure only the discontinuity is seen. The simulations predict that the sheath plays a determinative role on the presence of discontinuity and hysteresis at high pressure, by influencing the inductive coupling efficiency of applied power. Moreover, the values of the plasma transferred impedances at different pressures are compared, and the larger plasma inductance at low pressure due to less collision frequency, as analyzed, is the reason why the hysteresis is not seen at low pressure, even with a wider sheath. Besides, the behaviors of the coil voltage and current parameters during the mode transitions are investigated. They both increase(decrease) at the E to H(H to E) mode transition, indicating an improved(worsened) inductive power coupling efficiency.     

Mode transition in magnetic pole enhanced inductively coupled argon plasmas

The electrical probe (Langmuir probe) diagnostics of different plasma parameters and operation regimes (E/H modes) of magnetic pole enhanced, inductively coupled (MaPE-ICP) argon plasmas are investigated. It is shown that uniform, high density (n _e ∼ 10¹² cm^-3) and low electron temperature (T _e ∼ 1.5 eV) plasma can be produced in low pressure argon discharges at a low power (100 W). It is found that an MaPE-ICP reactor operates in two different modes; capacitive (E mode) and inductive (H mode). No density jump or hysteresis are reported between these modes. The effect of pressure on transition power, where the mode changes from E to H mode at 20 sccm gas flow rate are studied and it is found that for all pressures tested (∼7.5 mTorr to 75 mTorr) the transition power remains same. In the inductive mode, the above plasma parameters show a smooth variation with increasing filling gas pressure at fixed power. The intensity of the emission line at 750.4 nm due to 2p ₁ → 1s ₂ (Paschen’s notation) transition, closely follows the variation of n _e with RF power and filling gas pressure. Measured electron energy probability function (EEPF) shows that electron occupation mostly changes in the high-energy tail, which enlightens close similarity of the 750.4 nm argon line to electron number density (n _e ). The behaviour of the electron energy probability function (EEPF) with regard to pressure and RF power in two operational modes is presented.     

Measurement of electronegativity during the E to H mode transition in a radio frequency inductively coupled Ar/O_2 plasma

This paper presents the evolution of the electronegativity with the applied power during the E to H mode transition in a radio frequency(rf)inductively coupled plasma(ICP)in a mixture of Ar and O2.The densities of the negative ion and the electron,as well as their ratio,i.e.,the electronegativity,are measured as a function of the applied power by laser photo-detachment combined with a microwave resonance probe,under different pressures and O2 contents.Meanwhile,the optical emission intensities at Ar 750.4 nm and O 844.6 nm are monitored via a spectrograph.It was found that by increasing the applied power,the electron density and the optical emission intensity show a similar trench,i.e.,they increase abruptly at a threshold power,suggesting that the E to H mode transition occurs.With the increase of the pressure,the negative ion density presents opposite trends in the E-mode and the H-mode,which is related to the difference of the electron density and energy for the two modes.The emission intensities of Ar 750.4 nm and O 844.6 nm monotonously decrease with increasing the pressure or the O2 content,indicating that the density of high-energy electrons,which can excite atoms,is monotonically decreased.This leads to an increase of the negative ion density in the H-mode with increasing the pressure.Besides,as the applied power is increased,the electronegativity shows an abrupt drop during the E-to H-mode transition.     

轴向磁场下感应耦合放电模式转换的实验研究

为探究轴向磁场对纯Ar感应耦合等离子体放电模式转换的影响,设计并搭建一整套等离子体产生装置展开实验研究,引入阻抗分析法对放电模式转换进行判断,并得到了朗缪尔探针法的验证。实验发现,当气压为10 Pa时,轴向磁场强度的增加使得E-H和H-E模式转换的阈值功率增大;同时,随着轴向磁场的增强,放电中心区域的电子密度不断降低。初步分析认为,这是由于带电粒子在洛伦兹力作用下做回旋运动,导致高能电子在垂直磁场方向上的碰撞减少,降低了电子密度以及感应耦合效率。进一步分析电子能量概率函数(EEPF)发现,在E模式下,轴向磁场对电子运动的约束作用更加明显,高能电子(>27 eV)所占比例增多,电子能量分布更加均匀。     

氩气压力对螺旋波放电影响的发射光谱诊断及仿真研究

螺旋波等离子体源以其高电离效率与高密度优势受到多个领域的青睐。螺旋波放电高电离效率的机理或者功率耦合模式,一直是困扰该领域学者的难点之一,对于放电过程与特性的诊断则是揭示其物理机制的重要途径。光谱诊断能够克服介入式诊断手段对等离子体的干扰同时受等离子体烧蚀等弊端,且响应速度快、操作灵活。为研究螺旋波等离子体的放电特性以及气体压力的影响,开展了以氩气为工质气体的光谱实验研究,并针对实验开展了Helic程序数值模拟。通过改变光纤探头焦距调整径向诊断位置,得到谱线强度的径向分布。由氩原子4p-4s能级跃迁产生的谱线主要集中在740～920 nm区间,谱线相对强度较离子激发谱线较强。实验研究发现,在较低氩气压力范围（0.2 Pa<P_Ar<1.0 Pa）,随着压力增加,放电光强迅速增加,但是当压力增加到大于1.0 Pa之后,光强增长的趋势变缓,甚至部分谱线的相对强度不再增长,达到类饱和状态,朗缪尔探针测量得到离子密度变化趋势与其相似。光强分布在靠近径向边界处（r≈4 cm）存在凸起,且随压力增加,该凸起分布更为明显。通过对电子温度的计算发现,压力增加到一定程度将影响放电均匀性。仿真结果显示,增大压力,功率沉积密度的径向分布逐渐向径向边界处积累,与实验观察到的谱线强度径向凸起相一致,螺旋波与TG波的耦合效率增加。随着气体压力的增加,E_r的径向边界峰值降低,原因是波所受阻尼增强,TG波被有效地局限于径向较窄的边界处。电流密度轴向分量J_z在等离子体内部和边界处的峰值呈显著的减小趋势,可见,虽然压力增加一定程度上提高了等离子体密度,但却相应的减小了电离率,导致轴向电流密度受限。但是径向电流密度J_r却呈现先减小后增大的趋势,且增长幅度明显,综合来看,放电效率有所提高。可见适当增加气体压力,有助于提高放电的功率耦合效率和强度,增加等离子体密度。光强比值法是针对线性谱线参数计算的典型方法,Helic程序亦是专业领域内认可度很高的计算工具,结果可靠,分析方法具有可借鉴性。实验及仿真结果对于提高氩气工质下的螺旋波放电强度提供了一定的参考价值。     

射频电感耦合夹层等离子体中的模式转换

本文利用微波相位法和光谱诊断法, 研究了ICP放电等离子体在圆台状夹层等离子体中E模和H模相互转换的物理现象. E模和H模的之间转换过程是一个瞬间突变的, 转换点的输入功率随真空室压强的变化而变化. H模向E模转换的阈值功率低于E模向H模转换的值, 等离子体参数随输入功率变化曲线类似于铁磁物质中的磁滞回线. Ar II 408.2 nm谱线的强度的变化规律和电子密度随功率变化的规律基本一致. 通过本实验可以获得一种电子密度范围为3.85×10¹¹ cm^-3 < n_e < 4.68× 10¹¹ cm^-3, 外表面积为0.3 m², 厚度为2 cm稳定工作的等离子体源.     

大气压下石英毛细管内氩等离子体放电的发射光谱诊断

在长度为20 cm的石英毛细管内利用两个边缘锋利的中空的针型电极之间的氩气放电产生了高电子密度的大气压等离子体。利用发射光谱对所获得的等离子体的几个重要参数进行了诊断。利用计算机谱线拟合法合成了300 nm附近OH(A-X)的(0-0)转动谱带并通过与测量谱线的比较确定了等离子体的气体温度,根据H_β谱线Stark展宽法计算了等离子体的电子密度,采用玻尔兹曼曲线斜率法依据测得的有关氩的发射光谱估算了等离子体的电子温度。研究结果表明,这种石英毛细管内弧光放电等离子体的气体温度约为(1 100±50)K;电子密度数量级在1014 cm-3;电子温度约为(14 515±500)K。     

Generation of a pulsed high-current low-energy beam in a plasma electron source with a self-heated cathode

The transition of a low-current discharge with a self-heated hollow cathode to a high-current discharge is studied, and stability conditions for the latter in the pulsed–periodic mode with a current of 0.1–1.0 kA, pulse width of 0.1–1.0 ms, and a pulse repetition rate of 0.1–1.0 kHz are determined. The thermal conditions of the hollow cathode are analyzed, and the conclusion is drawn that the emission current high density is due to pulsed self-heating of the cathode’s surface layer. Conditions for stable emission from a plasma cathode with a grid acting as a plasma boundary using such a discharge are found at low accelerating voltage (100–200 eV) and a gas pressure of 0.1–0.4 Pa. The density of the ion current from a plasma generated by a pulsed beam with a current of 100 A is found to reach 0.1 A/cm². Probe diagnostics data for the emitting and beam plasmas in the electron source are presented, and a mechanism behind the instability of electron emission from the plasma is suggested on their basis.     

使用斯塔克展宽计算大气压射频介质阻挡放电氮气等离子体的电子密度

大气压射频等离子体是近几年发展起来的一种新型非平衡等离子体。以氮气掺杂少量氩气为放电气体,实现了大气压射频介质阻挡放电。利用发射光谱对放电进行在线诊断研究,并分析谱线线型,从中分离出谱线的Stark线型,从而计算出放电通道的电子密度。研究了单个放电通道中电子密度的空间分布并测量了通道同一位置的电子密度随放电输入功率的变化。结果显示,在放电通道中部,当放电输入功率由138W增加至248W,电子密度由4.038×1021 m-3升高至4.75×1021 m-3。     

Spatial characteristics of nanosecond pulsed micro-discharges in atmospheric pressure He/H2O mixture by optical emission spectroscopy

Atmospheric pressure micro-discharges in helium gas with a mixture of 0.5%water vapor between two pin electrodes are generated with nanosecond overvoltage pulses.The temporal and spatial characteristics of the discharges are investigated by means of time-resolved imaging and optical emission spectroscopy with respect to the discharge morphology,gas temperature,electron density,and excited species.The evolution of micro-discharges is captured by intensified CCD camera and electrical properties.The gas temperature is diagnosed by a two-temperature fit to the ro-vibrational OH(A²Σ⁺–X^П(2),0–0)emission band and is found to remain low at 425 K during the discharge pulses.The profile of electron density performed by the Stark broadening of Ha 656.1-nm and He I 667.8-nm lines is uniform across the discharge gap at the initial of discharge and reaches as high as 10²³m^-3.The excited species of He,OH,and H show different spatio-temporal behaviors from each other by the measurement of their emission intensities,which are discussed qualitatively in regard of their plasma kinetics.     

Dynamics of Ring-to-Volume Discharge Transition in H Mode in Inductively Coupled Plasma Torches at Atmospheric Pressure

The transition process in ring-to-volume discharge in H mode in inductively coupled plasma torches at atmospheric pressure is investigated by analyzing the time resolved image taken by a high speed camera. The effects of input power, plasma working gas flow rate, and its composition on the transition dynamics are also discussed.The results show that the discharge plasma has experienced ring discharge, and the development stage diffused from the boundary to the center in the confinement tube, and steady volume discharge after entering the H mode. Increasing input power, sheath gas flow rate and hydrogen contents in plasma working gas are all able to lessen the time consumed in the transition process in ring-to-volume discharge.     

Simulation of transition from Townsend mode to glow discharge mode in a helium dielectric barrier discharge at atmospheric pressure

The dielectric barrier discharge characteristics in helium at atmospheric pressure are simulated based on a one-dimensional fluid model. Under some discharge conditions, the results show that one discharge pulse per half voltage cycle usually appears when the amplitude of external voltage is low, while a glow-like discharge occurs at high voltage. For the one discharge pulse per half voltage cycle, the maximum of electron density appears near the anode at the beginning of the discharge, which corresponds to a Townsend discharge mode. The maxima of the electron density and the intensity of electric field appear in the vicinity of the cathode when the discharge current increases to some extent, which indicates the formation of a cathode-fall region. Therefore, the discharge has a transition from the Townsend mode to the glow discharge mode during one discharge pulse, which is consistent with previous experimental results.     

Electric and plasma characteristics of RF discharge plasma actuation under varying pressures

The electric and plasma characteristics of RF discharge plasma actuation under varying pressure have been investigated experimentally. As the pressure increases, the shapes of charge–voltage Lissajous curves vary, and the discharge energy increases. The emission spectra show significant difference as the pressure varies. When the pressure is 1000 Pa,the electron temperature is estimated to be 4.139 e V, the electron density and the vibrational temperature of plasma are peak4.71×10~(11)cm~(-3) and 1.27 e V, respectively. The ratio of spectral lines I391.4/peak I380.5which describes the electron temperature hardly changes when the pressure varies between 5000–30000 Pa, while it increases remarkably with the pressure below 5000 Pa, indicating a transition from filamentary discharge to glow discharge. The characteristics of emission spectrum are obviously influenced by the loading power. With more loading power, both of the illumination and emission spectrum intensity increase at 10000 Pa. The pin–pin electrode RF discharge is arc-like at power higher than 33 W, which results in a macroscopic air temperature increase.     

光谱法诊断大气压等离子体电子密度

采用发射光谱方法对大气压氩气介质阻挡放电(DBD)系统中的电子密度进行了诊断。通过考虑放电等离子体中的各种加宽机制, 采用自编的非对称卷积程序对氩原子发射谱线的线型进行分析拟合, 再通过反卷积的方法将各种加宽机制分离开来, 最终将Stark展宽分离出来进行大气压氩气介质阻挡放电电子密度的计算。诊断结果表明, 在大气压氩气介质阻挡放电中当有三个放电丝存在, 电子温度为10000 K时, 电子密度约为4.06×1021 m-3, 诊断结果和模拟结果符合得很好。此方法不仅可以应用在大气压介质阻挡放电中, 还可以用于其他含有非氢气体的大气压等离子体电子密度的测量。     

13.56 MHz/2 MHz柱状感性耦合等离子体参数的对比研究

通过Langmuir双探针和发射光谱诊断方法,对比研究了驱动频率为13.56 MHz和2 MHz柱状感性耦合等离子体中电子密度和电子温度的径向分布规律.结果表明:在高频和低频放电中,输入功率的增加对等离子体参数产生了不同的影响,高频放电中主要提升了电子密度,低频放电中则主要提升了电子温度.固定气压为10 Pa,分别由高频和低频驱动时,电子密度的径向分布均为"凸型".而电子温度的分布差异比较明显,高频驱动时,电子温度在腔室中心较为平坦,在边缘略有上升;低频驱动时,电子温度随径向距离的增加而逐渐下降.为了进一步分析造成这种差异的原因,在相同放电条件下采集了氩等离子体的发射光谱图,利用分支比法计算了亚稳态粒子的数密度,发现电子温度的径向分布始终与亚稳态粒子的径向分布相反.继续升高气压到100 Pa,发现不论高频还是低频放电,电子密度的径向分布均从"凸型"转变为"马鞍形",较低气压时电子密度的均匀性有了一定的提升,但低频的均匀性更好.     

大气压氩直流微放电光谱研究

微空心阴极放电或微放电是一种能够实现高气压下放电的有效方法。利用不锈钢空心针作阴极,不锈钢网作阳极,进行了大气压氩直流微放电实验研究。测量了大气压氩微放电光谱,发现氩气的发 射谱线主要集中在690～860 nm范围,且全部为氩原子4p—4s的跃迁。实验研究了不同放电电流、气体压强、气体流量与谱线强度之间的关系,发现谱线强度随放电电流、气体流量增加均增加,而谱线强 度随压强变化呈现不同特征：谱线强度随压强的增加先增加后降低,在13.3 kPa时强度最大。此外,选用跃迁波长为763.51和772.42 nm的两条光谱线,利用发射谱线强度比值法测量了氩气微放电等离子 体的电子激发温度。结果显示,其电子激发温度处于2 000～2 800 K之间,且随放电电流的增加而增加,随气体压强和气体流量的增加而降低。     

空气中空心阴极不同放电模式下的发光特性

为了进一步揭示空心阴极放电中放电模式的转换机制,特别是空心阴极放电过程中自脉冲的形成机理,利用柱型空心阴极放电结构,在空气环境下研究了放电处于不同模式时的发光特性。测量得到了不同放电模式下的伏安特性曲线、放电发光图像、自脉冲阶段的脉冲波形等。实验结果表明随着放电电流的增加放电分为汤生放电模式、自脉冲放电模式、正常辉光放电模式和反常辉光放电模式。虽然所用电源为直流电源,但在自脉冲放电阶段电流和电压随时间呈周期性变化。实验结果表明在不同的放电模式下具有不同的发光特性。在由汤生放电转换为自脉冲放电模式和由自脉冲模式转换为正常辉光放电模式过程中,放电腔的径向中心处和轴向孔口附近均存在光强的突变。实验同时在200～700 nm范围内测量得到了不同电流时的发射光谱。结果表明发射光谱主要集中在330～450 nm,主要包括氮分子的第二正带系(C3Π_u→B3Π_g )和氮分子离子的第一负带系（B2Σ+_u→X2Σ+_g）。其中氮分子离子第一负带系具有较强的发射光谱。由于B2Σ+_u激发电位较高,因此该谱带较强发射光谱的存在表明空心阴极放电较其他放电形式更容易获得高激发态粒子和高能量电子。在650～700 nm附近存在一弱的发光谱带,主要为氮分子的第一正带发射谱（B3Π_g→A3Σ+_u）。在此基础上根据双原子光谱发射理论,结合氮分子第二正带系的三组顺序组带：Δν=-1,-2和-3,利用玻尔兹曼斜率法计算得到了不同放电模式下氮气的分子振动温度。结果表明在实验电流范围内分子振动温度在3 300 K左右,随着电流的增加而升高,并且在自脉冲消失时存在一突变迅速增强。由于电子能量、电子密度与分子振动温度密切相关,因此该结果也表明随着放电电流的增加电子平均能量和电子密度不断增加,当脉冲消失时,电子平均能量和电子密度出现跃变升高。最后,对空心阴极放电中自脉冲的形成机理进行了讨论,结果表明自脉冲放电源于放电模式的转换。     

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在HL-2A装置孔栏位形放电的等离子体实验中,电子回旋辅助加热期间观察到了等离子体约束改善的现象,并对等离子体从低约束模式(L模)向约束改善模式转换时的等离子体线平均电子密度、等离子体储能、分界面内辐射功率、能量约束时间、Hα辐射等进行了研究。同时,分析了电子密度和等离子体辐射功率的空间分布随时间的演化。对改善约束的相关功率(辅助加热、欧姆加热功率和损失功率)进行了分析,并研究了等离子体约束改善转换时的边界净输入功率(阈值)与电子线平均密度和环向磁场的关系。     

HL-2A装置的约束改善和边界净输入功率分析

在HL-2A装置孔栏位形放电的等离子体实验中,电子回旋辅助加热期间观察到了等离子体约束改善的现象,并对等离子体从低约束模式(L模)向约束改善模式转换时的等离子体线平均电子密度、等离子体储能、分界面内辐射功率、能量约束时间、H_α辐射等进行了研究。同时,分析了电子密度和等离子体辐射功率的空间分布随时间的演化。对改善约束的相关功率(辅助加热、欧姆加热功率和损失功率)进行了分析,并研究了等离子体约束改善转换时的边界净输入功率(阈值)与电子线平均密度和环向磁场的关系。