Describing non-equilibrium "cold" plasmas through a chemical physics approach, this book uses the state-to-state plasma kinetics, which considers each internal state as a new species with its own cross sections. Extended atomic and molecular master equations are coupled with Boltzmann and Monte Carlo methods to solve the electron energy distribution function. Selected examples in different applied fields, such as microelectronics, fusion, and aerospace, are presented and discussed including the self-consistent kinetics in RF parallel plate reactors, the optimization of negative ion sources and the expansion of high enthalpy flows through nozzles of different geometries.

The book will cover the main aspects of the state-to-state kinetic approach for the description of nonequilibrium cold plasmas, illustrating the more recent achievements in the development of kinetic models including the self-consistent coupling of master equations and Boltzmann equation for electron dynamics.To give a complete portrayal, the book will assess fundamental concepts and theoretical formulations, based on a unified methodological approach, and explore the insight in related scientific problems still opened for the research community.

Autorentext

Mario Capitelli, University of Bari, mario.capitelli@ba.imip.cnr.it

Gianpiero Colonna, IMIP CNR

Fabrizio Esposito, IMIP CNR

Khaled Hassouni, Institut Galilee-Univeriste Paris

Annarita Laricchiuta, IMIP CNR

Savino Longo, University of Bari

Inhalt
Electron-molecule cross sections and rates involving rotationally, vibrationally and electronically excited states.- Reactivity and relaxation of vibrationally/rotationally excited molecules with open shell atoms.- Formation of vibrationally and rotationally excited molecules during atom recombination on surfaces.- Collisional-radiative models for atomic plasmas.- Collisional-radiative models for molecular plasmas.- Kinetic and Monte Carlo approaches to solve Boltzmann equation for the electron energy distribution functions.- Non-equilibrium plasma kinetics under discharge and post-discharge conditions: coupling problems for low pressure and atmospheric cold plasmas.- Ion transport under strong fields.- PIC (Particle In Cell ) models for low-pressure plasmas.- Negative ion H- for fusion.- Non equilibrium plasma expansion through nozzles.