Guided-Wave-Produced Plasmas provides an up-to-date report of the physics of plasmas produced by the high-frequency electromagnetic fields of guided waves. The modelling of discharges generated by travelling surface waves is presented using a unified approach based on modern aspects of nonlinear plasma theory. Diagnostic methods needed for research and the main experimental results on plasma behaviour are discussed. The methods and ideas presented in this book possess great potential for a wide variety of applications in plasma research and technology.

Klappentext

Guided-Wave-Produced Plasmas provides an up-to-date report on the physics of plasmas produced by the high-frequency electromagnetic fields of guided waves. The modelling of discharges generated by travelling surface waves is presented using a unified approach based on modern aspects of nonlinear plasma theory. Diagnostic methods needed for research and the main experimental results on plasma behaviour are covered in detail. The methods and ideas presented are liekly to lead to a wide variety of applications in plasma technology.

Inhalt

1. Introduction.- 1.1 The Structure of the Book.- 2. Basic Relations.- 2.1 Basic Laws of Plasma Electrodynamics.- 2.2 Basic Equations for Modelling Gas Discharges.- 2.2.1 Kinetic-Model Equations.- 2.2.2 Fluid-Model Equation.- 3. Surface-Wave Propagation in Homogeneous Plasmas.- 3.1 Remarks on Classification.- 3.2 Single Plane Interface.- 3.2.1 Case of Weak Collisions (w ? v).- 3.2.2 Case of Strong Collisions (v ? w).- 3.2.3 Semi-Bounded Plasmas Overlain by a Dielectric or a Plasma.- 3.2.4 Influence of the Thermal Motion of the Electrons.- 3.3 Plasma Slabs and Plasma Columns.- 3.3.1 Plasma Slabs: Planar Waveguides.- 3.3.2 Plasma Columns: Cylindrical Waveguides.- 4. Surface-Wave Propagation in Inhomogeneous Plasmas.- 4.1 Main Aspects Treated in this Chapter.- 4.2 Inhomogeneity in the Transverse Direction.- 4.2.1 Wave-Field Equations for Plane Geometry.- 4.2.2 Influence of Thermal Electron Motion on the Resonance Absorption of Electromagnetic Surface Waves.- 4.2.3 Surface Wave Propagation Along an Inhomogeneous Plasma Slab.- 4.2.4 Surface Wave Propagation Along a Radially Inhomogeneous Plasma Column.- 4.3 Inhomogeneity in the Longitudinal Direction.- 4.3.1 Single Interface.- 4.3.2 Layered Structures.- 4.3.3 Cylindrical Geometry.- 4.3.4 Generalized Procedure for Obtaining the Geometrical-Optics Solutions4.3.4 Generalized Procedure for Obtaining the Geometrical-Optics Solutions.- 4.3.5 Numerical Results for a Single Interface and for Cylindrical Waveguides.- 4.4 Calculations with Both Transverse and Longitudinal Inhomogeneities.- 5. Fluid Theory of Surface-Wave-Produced Plasmas.- 5.1 Surface-Wave-Sustained Discharges: Nonlinear Systems Unifying Plasma and Wave Field.- 5.2 The Set of Equations.- 5.3 Ionization Nonlinearity.- 5.3.1 Electron Temperature in Terms of the Maintenance Field Intensity.- 5.3.2 Power Absorbed on Average per Electron.- 5.3.3 Ionization Frequency in Terms of the Maintenance Field Intensity.- 5.3.4 Plasma Density Expressed in Terms of the Maintenance Field Intensity.- 5.4 The Electrodynamic Part of the Problem of Maintenance of a Waveguided Discharge.- 5.5 Self-Consistent Axial Structure.- 5.5.1 Recombination-Controlled Regime.- 5.5.2 Diffusion-Controlled Regime.- 5.5.3 Comparison of the Axial Structures of Discharges in Diffusion- and Recombination-Controlled Regimes.- 5.6 Axial Density Profiles.- 5.6.1 General Relations.- 5.6.2 Discharges Maintained in a Diffusion-Controlled Regime by Joule Heating in the Volume.- 5.6.3 Discharges Maintained by Joule Heating in the Plasma Volume and in Regions of Resonance Absorption.- 6. Kinetic Numerical Modelling.- 6.1 Nonlocal Model.- 6.1.1 Boltzmann's Equation.- 6.1.2 Complementary Relations.- 6.1.3 Mean Power Absorbed per Electron.- 6.1.4 Axial Structure.- 6.1.5 Results.- 6.1.6 Axial Changes of Electric-Field Intensity.- 6.1. 7 Influence of Ponderomotive-Force Effects.- 6.2 Local Approach.- 6.2.1 Set of Equations.- 6.2.2 Essential Features.- 6.3 Transition Regime.- 7. Experimental Aspects.- 7.1 Experimental Conditions.- 7.2 Diagnostic Methods.- 7.2.1 Radiophysics Diagnostic Methods.- 7.2.2 Probe Diagnostics.- 7.2.3 Microwave Diagnostics.- 7.2.4 Optical Spectroscopy Methods.- 7.3 Summary of Observations.- 7.3.1 Observations on Basic Features.- 7.3.2 Observations Relevant to Features of Self-Consistency.- 7.4 Open Questions and Related Areas of Research.- 7.5 Applicational Aspects.- References.