Search

The properties of a plasma sheath in the presence of dust grains and a magnetic mirror-like field configuration have been investigated in this study. All the plasma species viz. electrons, ions, and dust grains are described by fluid equations. The system of equations involved in the study is solved numerically using the Runge-Kutta fourth-order (RK4) method to explore the sheath properties. The results of the study suggest that in the presence of a magnetic mirror-like field configuration, the component of ion velocity perpendicular to the wall decreases near the surface, and consequently, the ion density increases. To the best of our knowledge, such observations have not been reported anywhere previously. This utterly different observation is due to the magnetic field configuration alone. Such a behavior can be used to control the dynamics of the ions in the sheath. Moreover, ion-neutral collisions tend to reduce the effect of the magnetic field on the properties of the sheath. The study may be helpful to understand the interactions of plasma with the wall in different plasma-assisted industrial applications containing dust grains as contaminants. Besides, the study will play a significant role in controlling the dynamics of positive ions and negatively charged dust grains in the sheath. The space charge shows an unusual behavior near the sheath. In the usual scenario, the space charge slightly decreases near the wall. But in the present context, the space charge increases. Further, it has been observed that the dust surface potential near the wall becomes less negative with the increase in magnetic field strength. The magnetic field and ion-neutral collisions tend to restrict the movement of the ions toward the wall when acting separately, but their combined effect leads to a different kind of behavior altogether.

A viscous dusty plasma containing Kappa-(κ − ) distributed electrons, positive warm viscous ions, and constant negatively charged dust grains with viscosity have been considered to study the modes of dust-ion-acoustic waves (DIAWs) theoretically and numerically. The derivations and basic features of shock and solitary waves with different plasma parameters like Mach number, finite temperature coefficient, unperturbed dust streaming velocity, the kinematic viscosity of dust, etc of this DIAWs mode have been performed. Considering the dynamical equation from Korteweg-de Vries(KdV) equation, a phase portrait has been drawn and the position of the saddle point or col. and center have also been discussed. This type of dusty plasma can be found in celestial bodies. The results of this research work can be applied to study the properties of DIAWs in various astrophysical situations where κ-distributive electrons are present and careful modification of the same model can help us to understand the nature of the DIAWs of laboratory plasma as well.

The role of hot electrons in charging of dust grains is investigated in a two-temperature hydrogen plasma. A variety of dust particles are introduced into the system and secondary electron emission (SEE) from each of the dust grains has been reported. A cylindrical Langmuir probe is used for determining the plasma parameters and a Faraday cup is connected to an electrometer in order to measure the dust current. The electrometer readings confirm the electron emission from the dust and SEE is observed from the tungsten dust in a low-pressure experimental plasma device for the first time., Comment: 12 pages, 12 figures

A two-electron temperature plasma is produced by the method of diffusion of two different plasmas with distinct temperatures and densities. The method is simple and provides an adequate control over the plasma parameters. The study reveals that the temperature and density of both the electron groups can be effectively controlled by just changing the discharge currents of both the plasmas. An ion-acoustic (IA) wave is excited in the plasma and is detected using a planar Langmuir probe. The damped amplitude of the wave is measured and is used as a diagnostic tool for establishing the presence of two-electron components. This production method can be helpful in controlling the hot electron density and temperature in plasma processing industries., Comment: 12 pages, 12 figures

The sheath formation in a weakly magnetized collisionless electronegative plasma consisting of electrons and negative and positive ions has been numerically investigated using the hydrodynamic equations. The electrons and negative ions are assumed to follow the Boltzmann relation. A sheath formation criterion has been analytically derived. This paper focuses on studying the sheath structure by varying the electronegativity. It has been observed that the presence of negative ions has a substantial effect on the sheath structure. The observations made in the present work have profound significance on processing plasmas, specifically in the semiconductor industry as well as in fusion studies.

The significance of dust particles for the electron energy probability function (EEPF) and plasma oscillations is studied under varying magnetic field strength in a filamentary discharge hydrogen plasma. The experimental result shows that with an increase in dust density, the electron density decreases as a result of the charging of dust grains in the plasma background. A bi-Maxwellian EEPF is computed in both a pristine hydrogen plasma and a dust-containing plasma at different magnetic field strengths. We have observed that the increase in magnetic field decreases the lower energy electron population. The electron population of the lower energy range shows nearly identical results at magnetic field, $B\leqslant 3.7$ mT whereas the behaviour of the high-energy electron population becomes identical for a field strength $B\leqslant 5.8$ mT. From the observation, we have seen that the mid energy electron population slightly decreases and the high energy electron population slightly increases due to the presence of dust particles as compared to a pristine plasma. Further, very low energy electron population remains almost unchanged. With increase in dust density, the mid energy electron population further decreases whereas the high energy electron population slightly increases for different magnetic fields. But, no changes were observed for the very low energy electron population in the presence of dust particles. From the study of plasma oscillation, it is observed that the dominant frequency associated with the plasma oscillation is matched with the ion cyclotron frequency. The amplitude of the ion cyclotron frequency reduces with the increase of dust density which might be due to the decrease of plasma density.

A collisional magnetized plasma consisting of two temperature electrons has been investigated numerically to study the sheath structure and the ion energy flux to the wall. The low-temperature electrons are described by Maxwellian distribution, and the high-temperature electrons are described by truncated Maxwellian distribution. It has been observed that high-temperature electrons play a major role in the sheath potential as well as the ion energy flux to the wall. The presence of collision in the sheath has a significant effect on the properties of the sheath. The study of such a system can help in understanding of plasma surface interaction., Comment: 16 pages

An experimental study has been performed into the variation of charge on dust grains with change in the ambient plasma conditons. A dust beam containing submicron sized silver grains was passed through plasma. The dust grains were charged by the plasma particles as well as by primary electrons from the filament. An increase in the filament current increased both the plasma density and the number density of the primary electrons. The grain charge was found out both from the deflection of the dust grains and also from the floating potential. The experimental observations shows that the secondary emission caused by the primary electrons significantly influenced and played a prominent role in the establishment of charge on the grains.

The effect of external magnetic field on the Langmuir probe measurement and dust charging are studied in low-pressure hydrogen plasma. The experiment is performed in a dusty plasma device where plasma is created by the hot cathode filament discharge technique. A strong Strontium ferrite magnet is used inside the plasma, near the dust zone. The plasma parameters are measured at different distances from the magnet with the help of Langmuir probe system. It is observed that even at “low magnetic field case,” where rLe≥rP, rLi〉〉rP; the electron collection by the probe deviates strongly from the actual value, until rLe≥10rP. The observations of electron energy probability function show that at higher magnetic field, the Langmuir probe collects only the higher energy electrons compared to the low energy electrons. Both Quasi-neutrality condition and capacitance model are used separately to calculate the charge accumulated on the dust grain. Introducing the reduction factor on quasi-neutrality condition, it is o...

In this work, stochastic behavior of atmospheric pressure dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) has been investigated. The experiment is performed in a DBD reactor consisting of a pair of stainless steel parallel plate electrodes powered by a 50 Hz ac high voltage source. Current pulse amplitude distributions for different space gaps and the time separation between consecutive current pulses are studied. A probability distribution function is proposed to predict the experimental distribution function for the current pulse amplitudes and the occurrence of the transition regime of the pulse distribution. Breakdown voltage at different positions on the dielectric surface is suggested to be stochastic in nature. The simulated results based on the proposed distribution function agreed well with the experimental results and able to predict the regime of transition voltage. This model would be useful for the understanding of stochastic behaviors of DBD and the design of DBD device for effective operation and applications.

The effect of working gas pressure and dust charging on electron energy probability function has been studied for hydrogen plasma in a multi-dipole dusty plasma device. A cylindrical Langmuir probe is used to evaluate the plasma parameters and electron energy probability function (EEPF) for different working pressures. For lower energy range (below 10 eV), the EEPF follows a bi-Maxwellian shape at very low pressure (6 × 10−5 mbar), while elevating the working pressure up to ∼2 × 10−3 mbar, the shape of the EEPF transforms into a single Maxwellian. Some dip structures are observed at high energy range (e > 10 eV) in the EEPF of hydrogen plasma at all the working conditions. In presence of dust particles, it is observed that the shape of the EEPF changes due to the redistribution of the high and low-energy electron populations. Finally, the effect of working pressure on charge accumulation on dust particles is studied with the help of a Faraday cup and electrometer. From the observations, a strong influence...

The discharge dynamics in an atmospheric pressure dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) is studied in a DBD reactor consisting of a pair of stainless steel parallel plate electrodes. The DBD discharge has been generated by a 50 Hz ac high voltage power source. The high-speed intensified charge coupled device camera is used to capture the images of filaments occurring in the discharge gap. It is observed that frequent synchronous breakdown of micro discharges occurs across the discharge gap in the case of negative current pulse. The experimental results reveal that secondary emissions from the dielectric surface play a key role in the synchronous breakdown of plasma filaments.

The effect of confining wall potential on charged collimated dust beam in low-pressure plasma has been studied in a dusty plasma experimental setup by applying electrostatic field to each channel of a multicusp magnetic cage. Argon plasma is produced by hot cathode discharge method at a pressure of 5×10−4 millibars and is confined by a full line cusped magnetic field confinement system. Silver dust grains are produced by gas-evaporation technique and move upward in the form of a collimated dust beam due to differential pressure maintained between the dust and plasma chambers. The charged grains in the beam after coming out from the plasma column enter into the diagnostic chamber and are deflected by a dc field applied across a pair of deflector plates at different confining potentials. Both from the amount of deflection and the floating potential, the number of charges collected by the dust grains is calculated. Furthermore, the collimated dust beam strikes the Faraday cup, which is placed above the defle...

The effect of the electrostatic confinement potential on the charging of dust grains and its relationship with the plasma parameters has been studied in an electrostatically plugged multicusp dusty plasma device. Electrostatic plugging is implemented by biasing the electrically isolated magnetic multicusp channel walls. The experimental results show that voltage applied to the channel walls can be a controlling parameter for dust charging.

The effect of energetic electrons on dust charging for different types of dust is studied in hydrogen plasma. The hydrogen plasma is produced by hot cathode filament discharge method in a dusty plasma device. A full line cusped magnetic field cage is used to confine the plasma elements. To study the plasma parameters for various discharge conditions, a cylindrical Langmuir probe having 0.15 mm diameter and 10.0 mm length is used. An electronically controlled dust dropper is used to drop the dust particles into the plasma. For different discharge conditions, the dust current is measured using a Faraday cup connected to an electrometer. The effect of secondary emission as well as discharge voltage on charging of dust grains in hydrogen plasma is studied with different dust.

Dust grains are produced by evaporation of silver in an experimental setup consisting of a dust chamber, a plasma chamber, and a deflection chamber. Due to differential pressure between the dust and plasma chambers, the dust grains move upward and after passing through plasma they become negatively charged. These charged dust grains are then deflected by a dc field applied across a pair of deflector plates in the deflection chamber. Both from the amount of deflection and also from the floating potential, the number of charges collected on the dust grains is calculated. As the gas pressure is changed, the plasma density and the electron temperature changes. Dust charge is then calculated at each value of pressure from the deflection and floating potential. It is found that the electron temperature has a profound effect in the accumulation of charge on dust grains.