Simulation of moving striations in rare gas plasmas

ORAL

Abstract

Ionization waves (moving striations) have been observed in classical DC discharges of rare gases in a wide range of gas pressures and discharge currents. Recently, striations have been also observed in plasma display cells and other micro-discharges. We have obtained moving striations in computer experiments using self-consistent discharge model. The model includes Boltzmann solver for electron kinetics, fluid model for ion transport, Poisson equation for the electric field and (optionally) an external circuit model. Simulations are performed from cathode to anode in 1d or 2d settings. Striations appear initially near the cathode and propagate towards the anode as observed in experiments. The model allows studies of nonlinear waves and effects of external circuit on the wave properties. We will discuss the mechanism of striations for different operating conditions and present results of simulations for a DC discharge in Argon gas for a typical pressure of 1 Torr, tube radius R=1 cm, for different discharge currents. High sensitivity of striations to the state of electron gas and ionization kinetics makes them an ideal tool for testing discharge models and advanced plasma diagnostics.

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Authors

  • Vladimir Kolobov

    CFD Research Corporation, Huntsville, AL, USA

  • Paule Maguire

    Department of Chemistry and Physics, Lamar University, Applied Materials, Sandia National Laboratories, Institute for Theoretical Electrical Engineering, Ruhr University Bochum, D-44780 Bochum, Germany, Ecole Polytechnique, France, Assistant Research Professor, University of Saskatchewan, PPPL, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada, Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton University, Technische Universiteit Eindhoven, Institut fur Niedertemperatur Plasmaphysik, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology \& New York University, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, St.Petersburg State Politechnical University, St.Petersburg, Russia, Hanyang University, University of Nantes, Eindhoven University of Technology, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Air Force Research Laboratory, Innovative Scientific Solutions, Inc, University of Cambridge, UK, University of Bristol, UK, University Kiel, Germany, INP Greifswald, Germany, KRISS, INP, Greifswald, Germany, Australian National University, Drake University, University of Central Florida, University of Missouri-Rolla, John Carroll University, Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, University of Southampton, UK and Hong Kong Polytechnic University, University of Nottingham, UK, University of Pittsburgh, Department of Physics, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, Department of Computer Science, Lamar University, Institute of Nuclear Physics, Moscow State University, Russia, Univ. of Houston, Dublin City University, Ireland, West Virginia University, Nagoya Institute of Technology, National University of Ireland, Maynooth, 3M Company, Samsung Electronics, Kyoto University, EM2C, Ecole Centrale, CNRS, Chatenay, France, University of Duisburg-Essen, Ruhr Uni Bochum, LSP, UJF, CNRS, Grenoble, France, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Tech-X Corporation, Dublin City University, Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Plasma Physics Division, Naval Research Laboratory, The Open University, United Kingdom, Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands, University of Minnesota, Universit\'e Joseph Fourier de Grenoble, France, Nagoya University, Japan, West Virginia University, Physics Department, Morgantown, WV 26506-6315, Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK, Institute for Plasma and Atomic Physics, CPST, Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany, CAMS, Australian National University, Schuster Laboratory, School of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK, Centre for Antimatter-Matter Studies, Griffith University, ISAS/JAXA, University of Tokyo, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan, University of Texas at Austin, LTM, Grenoble, LSP, Grenoble, CPAT,Toulouse, LPGP, Orsay, France, NRL-NRC Postdoctoral Associate, SFA, Crofton, MD, Center for Plasma Science and Technology CPST, Ruhr University Bochum, D-44780 Bochum, Germany, Department of Physics, University Duisburg-Essen, D-45141 Essen, Germany, LACE, UCBL, CNRS, Lyon, France, LPTP, Ecole Polytechnique, CNRS, Palaiseau, France, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, UES, INC., Dayton, OH, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia, Suzuka National College of Technology, Japan, Plasma Research Laboratory, NCPST, Dublin City University, Dublin 9, Ireland, University Greifswald, Germany, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autonoma del Estado de Morelos, Nagoya University, University of Liverpool, United Kingdom, LPTP, Ecole Polytechnique, Palaiseau, France, Laboratory for Optical Physics and Engineering, Dept. of Elec. and Computer Engr., University of Illinois, Laboratory for Optical Physics and Engineering, Dept. of Elect. and Computer Engr., University of Illinois, The Ohio State University (OH), Department of Physics, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, Bangladesh, CAMS, Murdoch University, Australia, Drake University, USA, Gothenburg University, University of Wisconsin- Madison, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Physics Dept., Sophia University, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-855, Japan, ARC Centre for Antimatter-Matter Studies, SoCPES, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, 5001 Australia, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology / New York University, National Fusion Research Center / Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology and Courant Institute-NYU, Institute for Theoretical Electrical Engineering, Ruhr University Bochum, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology / NewYork University, Sandia National Labs, Plasma, Pulsed-Power, and Microwave Lab, Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences Dept., University of Michigan, Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Gloucester, MA, Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, Sheffield Hallam University, GE Global Research, Kintech, University of Nebraska, University of Fribourg, Switzerland, CAMS, Flinders University, Australia, University of Nantes, France, CFD Research Corporation, Huntsville, AL, USA, Research Professor