Plasma and Sheath

Introduction to Nuclear Engineering, Fall 2019

Plasma and Sheath

Fall, 2019

Kyoung-Jae Chung

Department of Nuclear Engineering

Motions of a charged particle in uniform electric field

 Equation of motion of a charged particle in fields 𝑚𝑚𝑑𝑑𝒗𝒗

𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = 𝑞𝑞 𝑬𝑬(𝒓𝒓, 𝑑𝑑) + 𝒗𝒗 × 𝑩𝑩(𝒓𝒓, 𝑑𝑑) ,

𝑑𝑑𝒓𝒓

𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = 𝒗𝒗(𝑑𝑑)

 Motion in constant electric field

 For a constant electric field 𝑬𝑬 = 𝑬𝑬_𝟎𝟎 with 𝑩𝑩 = 0,

 Electrons are easily accelerated by electric field due to their smaller mass than ions.

 Electrons (Ions) move against (along) the electric field direction.

 The charged particles get kinetic energies.

𝒓𝒓(𝑑𝑑) = 𝒓𝒓_𝟎𝟎 + 𝒗𝒗_𝟎𝟎𝑑𝑑 + 𝑞𝑞𝑬𝑬_𝟎𝟎 𝟐𝟐𝑚𝑚 𝑑𝑑²

Motions of a charged particle in uniform magnetic field

𝑚𝑚𝑑𝑑𝒗𝒗

𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = 𝑞𝑞𝒗𝒗 × 𝑩𝑩

𝑚𝑚𝑑𝑑𝑣𝑣_𝑥𝑥

𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = 𝑞𝑞𝐵𝐵⁰𝑣𝑣_𝑦𝑦 𝑚𝑚𝑑𝑑𝑣𝑣_𝑦𝑦

𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = −𝑞𝑞𝐵𝐵⁰𝑣𝑣_𝑥𝑥 𝑚𝑚𝑑𝑑𝑣𝑣_𝑧𝑧

𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = 0

𝑑𝑑²𝑣𝑣_𝑥𝑥

= −𝜔𝜔_𝑐𝑐²𝑣𝑣_𝑥𝑥 𝜔𝜔_𝑐𝑐 = 𝑞𝑞 𝐵𝐵₀ 𝑚𝑚

 Motion in constant magnetic field

 For a constant magnetic field 𝑩𝑩 = 𝐵𝐵₀𝒛𝒛 with 𝑬𝑬 = 0,

 Cyclotron (gyration) frequency

Motions of a charged particle in uniform magnetic field

 Particle velocity

𝑣𝑣_𝑥𝑥 = 𝑣𝑣_⊥cos 𝜔𝜔_𝑐𝑐𝑑𝑑 + 𝜙𝜙₀ 𝑣𝑣_𝑦𝑦 = −𝑣𝑣_⊥ sin 𝜔𝜔_𝑐𝑐𝑑𝑑 + 𝜙𝜙₀ 𝑣𝑣_𝑧𝑧 = 𝑣𝑣_𝑧𝑧0

 Particle position

𝑥𝑥 = 𝑥𝑥₀ + 𝑟𝑟_𝑐𝑐 sin 𝜔𝜔_𝑐𝑐𝑑𝑑 + 𝜙𝜙₀ 𝑦𝑦 = 𝑦𝑦₀ + 𝑟𝑟_𝑐𝑐 cos 𝜔𝜔_𝑐𝑐𝑑𝑑 + 𝜙𝜙₀ 𝑧𝑧 = 𝑧𝑧₀ + 𝑣𝑣_𝑧𝑧0𝑑𝑑

 Larmor (gyration) radius 𝑟𝑟_𝑐𝑐 = 𝑣𝑣_⊥

𝜔𝜔_𝑐𝑐 = 𝑚𝑚𝑣𝑣_⊥ 𝑞𝑞 𝐵𝐵₀

 Guiding center 𝑥𝑥₀, 𝑦𝑦₀, 𝑧𝑧₀ + 𝑣𝑣_𝑧𝑧0𝑑𝑑

Gyro-frequency and gyro-radius

 The direction of gyration is always such that the magnetic field generated by the charged particle is opposite to the externally imposed field.  diamagnetic

𝑓𝑓_{𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐} = 2.80 × 10⁶ 𝐵𝐵₀ Hz 𝐵𝐵₀ in gauss

𝑟𝑟_{𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐} = 3.37 𝐸𝐸

𝐵𝐵₀ cm (𝐸𝐸 in volts)

 For electrons

 For singly charged ions

𝑓𝑓_{𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐} = 1.52 × 10³ 𝐵𝐵₀/𝑀𝑀_𝐴𝐴 Hz 𝐵𝐵₀ in gauss

𝑟𝑟_{𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐} = 144 𝐸𝐸𝑀𝑀_𝐴𝐴

𝐵𝐵₀ cm (𝐸𝐸 in volts, 𝑀𝑀_𝐴𝐴 in amu)

 Energy gain?

Motions of a charged particle in uniform E and B fields

 Equation of motion

𝑚𝑚𝑑𝑑𝒗𝒗

𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = 𝑞𝑞 𝑬𝑬 + 𝒗𝒗 × 𝑩𝑩

 Parallel motion: 𝑩𝑩 = 𝐵𝐵₀𝒛𝒛 and 𝑬𝑬 = 𝐸𝐸₀𝒛𝒛,

𝑚𝑚𝑑𝑑𝑣𝑣_𝑧𝑧

𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = 𝑞𝑞𝐸𝐸^𝑧𝑧 𝑣𝑣_𝑧𝑧 = 𝑞𝑞𝐸𝐸_𝑧𝑧

𝑚𝑚 𝑑𝑑 + 𝑣𝑣^𝑧𝑧0

 Straightforward acceleration along B

𝑬𝑬×𝑩𝑩 drift

 Transverse motion: 𝑩𝑩 = 𝐵𝐵₀𝒛𝒛 and 𝑬𝑬 = 𝐸𝐸₀𝒙𝒙,

 Differentiating, 𝑚𝑚𝑑𝑑𝑣𝑣_𝑥𝑥

𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = 𝑞𝑞𝐸𝐸₀ + 𝑞𝑞𝐵𝐵₀𝑣𝑣_𝑦𝑦 𝑚𝑚𝑑𝑑𝑣𝑣_𝑦𝑦

𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = −𝑞𝑞𝐵𝐵⁰𝑣𝑣_𝑥𝑥

𝑑𝑑²𝑣𝑣_𝑥𝑥

𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑² = −𝜔𝜔_𝑐𝑐²𝑣𝑣_𝑥𝑥 𝑑𝑑²𝑣𝑣_𝑦𝑦

𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑² = −𝜔𝜔_𝑐𝑐² 𝐸𝐸₀

𝐵𝐵₀ + 𝑣𝑣_𝑦𝑦

 Particle velocity

𝑣𝑣_𝑥𝑥 = 𝑣𝑣_⊥cos 𝜔𝜔_𝑐𝑐𝑑𝑑 + 𝜙𝜙₀

𝑣𝑣_𝑦𝑦 = −𝑣𝑣_⊥sin 𝜔𝜔_𝑐𝑐𝑑𝑑 + 𝜙𝜙₀ − 𝐸𝐸₀ 𝐵𝐵

𝑣𝑣_{𝑔𝑔𝑐𝑐}

𝒗𝒗_𝐸𝐸 = 𝑬𝑬 × 𝑩𝑩 𝐵𝐵^𝟐𝟐

DC magnetron

 A magnetron which is widely used in the sputtering system uses the 𝑬𝑬×𝑩𝑩 drift motion for plasma confinement.

 What is the direction of 𝑬𝑬×𝑩𝑩 drift motion?

Motions of a charged particle in gravitational field

 Generally, the guiding center drift caused by general force 𝑭𝑭

 If 𝑭𝑭 is the force of gravity 𝑚𝑚𝒈𝒈, 𝒗𝒗_𝑓𝑓 = 1

𝑞𝑞

𝑭𝑭 × 𝑩𝑩 𝐵𝐵^𝟐𝟐

𝒗𝒗_𝑔𝑔 = 𝑚𝑚 𝑞𝑞

𝒈𝒈 × 𝑩𝑩 𝐵𝐵^𝟐𝟐

 What is the difference between 𝒗𝒗_𝐸𝐸 and 𝒗𝒗_𝑔𝑔?

𝜵𝜵𝐵𝐵⊥𝑩𝑩: Grad-B drift

 The gradient in |𝑩𝑩| causes the Larmor radius to be larger at the bottom of the orbit than at the top, and this should lead to a drift, in opposite directions for ions and electrons, perpendicular to both 𝑩𝑩 and 𝜵𝜵𝐵𝐵.

 Guiding center motion

𝒗𝒗_{𝛻𝛻𝐵𝐵} = ±1

2 𝑣𝑣^⊥𝑟𝑟_𝑐𝑐 𝑩𝑩 × 𝛁𝛁𝐵𝐵 𝐵𝐵^𝟐𝟐

𝜵𝜵𝐵𝐵

Curved B: Curvature drift

 The average centrifugal force

 Total drift in a curved vacuum field (curvature + grad-B) 𝑭𝑭_{𝑐𝑐𝑓𝑓} = 𝑚𝑚𝑣𝑣_∥²

𝑅𝑅_𝑐𝑐 �𝒓𝒓 = 𝑚𝑚𝑣𝑣_∥² 𝑹𝑹_𝑐𝑐 𝑅𝑅_𝑐𝑐²

 Curvature drift

𝒗𝒗_𝑅𝑅 = 1 𝑞𝑞

𝑭𝑭_{𝑐𝑐𝑓𝑓} × 𝑩𝑩

𝐵𝐵^𝟐𝟐 = 𝑚𝑚𝑣𝑣_∥² 𝑞𝑞𝐵𝐵^𝟐𝟐

𝑹𝑹_𝑐𝑐 × 𝑩𝑩 𝑅𝑅_𝑐𝑐²

𝒗𝒗_𝑅𝑅 + 𝒗𝒗_{𝛻𝛻𝐵𝐵} = 𝑚𝑚 𝑞𝑞

𝑹𝑹_𝑐𝑐 × 𝑩𝑩

𝑅𝑅_𝑐𝑐²𝐵𝐵² 𝑣𝑣_∥² + 1 2 𝑣𝑣^⊥2

𝐵𝐵 ∝ 1 𝑅𝑅_𝑐𝑐

𝜵𝜵 𝐵𝐵

𝐵𝐵 = − 𝑹𝑹_𝑐𝑐 𝑅𝑅_𝑐𝑐²

𝜵𝜵𝐵𝐵∥𝑩𝑩: Magnetic mirror

 Adiabatic invariant: Magnetic moment

 Magnetic mirror

 As the particle moves into regions of stronger or weaker 𝐵𝐵, its Larmor radius changes, but 𝜇𝜇 remains invariant.

𝜇𝜇 = 𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼 =

12 𝑚𝑚𝑣𝑣^⊥2 𝐵𝐵

12 𝑚𝑚𝑣𝑣^⊥02 𝐵𝐵₀ =

12 𝑚𝑚𝑣𝑣^⊥𝑚𝑚2 𝐵𝐵_𝑚𝑚

𝑣𝑣_⊥𝑚𝑚² = 𝑣𝑣_⊥0² + 𝑣𝑣_∥0² ≡ 𝑣𝑣₀² 𝐵𝐵₀

𝐵𝐵_𝑚𝑚 = 𝑣𝑣_⊥0²

𝑣𝑣_⊥𝑚𝑚² = 𝑣𝑣_⊥0²

𝑣𝑣₀² = sin²𝜃𝜃

Motions of a charged particle in a dipole magnetic field

 Trajectories of particles confined in a dipole field

 Particles experience gyro-, bounce- and drift- motions

Boltzmann’s equation & macroscopic quantities

 Particle density

 Particle flux

 Particle energy density Distribution function

One-dimensional phase space

Particle conservation

𝜕𝜕𝑛𝑛

𝜕𝜕𝑑𝑑 + 𝜵𝜵 � 𝑛𝑛𝒖𝒖 = 𝐺𝐺 − 𝐿𝐿

The net number of particles per second generated within Ω either flows across the surface Γ or increases the number of particles within Ω.

For common low-pressure discharges in steady-state:

Hence,

𝐺𝐺 = 𝜈𝜈_{𝑐𝑐𝑧𝑧}𝑛𝑛_𝑐𝑐, 𝐿𝐿 ≈ 0

𝜵𝜵 � 𝑛𝑛𝒖𝒖 = 𝜈𝜈_{𝑐𝑐𝑧𝑧}𝑛𝑛_𝑐𝑐

 The continuity equation is clearly not sufficient to give the evolution of the

Momentum conservation

𝑚𝑚𝑛𝑛 𝜕𝜕𝒖𝒖

𝜕𝜕𝑑𝑑 + 𝒖𝒖 � 𝜵𝜵 𝒖𝒖 = 𝑞𝑞𝑛𝑛𝑬𝑬 − 𝜵𝜵𝑝𝑝 − 𝑚𝑚𝑛𝑛𝜈𝜈

𝒖𝒖

Convective derivative

 Pressure tensor

 isotropic for weakly ionized plasmas

 The time rate of momentum transfer per unit volume due to collisions with other species

Equation of state (EOS)

 An equation of state is a thermodynamic equation describing the state of matter under a given set of physical conditions.

𝑝𝑝 = 𝑝𝑝 𝑛𝑛, 𝑇𝑇 , 𝜀𝜀 = 𝜀𝜀(𝑛𝑛, 𝑇𝑇)

 Isothermal EOS for slow time variations, where temperatures are allowed to equilibrate. In this case, the fluid can exchange energy with its surroundings.

 The energy conservation equation needs to be solved to determine p and T.

𝑝𝑝 = 𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑇𝑇, 𝛻𝛻𝑝𝑝 = 𝑛𝑛𝑇𝑇𝛻𝛻𝑛𝑛

 Adiabatic EOS for fast time variations, such as in waves, when the fluid does not exchange energy with its surroundings

 The energy conservation equation is not required.

𝑝𝑝 = 𝐶𝐶𝑛𝑛

, 𝛻𝛻𝑝𝑝

𝑝𝑝 = 𝛾𝛾

𝛻𝛻𝑛𝑛

𝑛𝑛

𝐶𝐶_𝑝𝑝

𝐶𝐶_𝑣𝑣 (specific heat ratio)

 Specific heat ratio vs degree of freedom (𝑓𝑓) 𝛾𝛾 = 1 + 2

Equilibrium: Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution

 For a single species in thermal equilibrium with itself (e.g., electrons), in the absence of time variation, spatial gradients, and accelerations, the Boltzmann equation reduces to

𝜕𝜕𝑓𝑓�

𝜕𝜕𝑑𝑑 _𝑐𝑐 = 0

 Then, we obtain the Maxwell-Boltzmann velocity distribution 𝑓𝑓 𝑣𝑣 = 2

𝜋𝜋 𝑚𝑚 𝑛𝑛𝑇𝑇

3 𝑣𝑣²𝑒𝑒𝑥𝑥𝑝𝑝 −𝑚𝑚𝑣𝑣² 2𝑛𝑛𝑇𝑇 𝑓𝑓 𝜀𝜀 = 2

𝜋𝜋 𝜀𝜀 𝑛𝑛𝑇𝑇

1/2𝑒𝑒𝑥𝑥𝑝𝑝 − 𝜀𝜀 𝑛𝑛𝑇𝑇

 The mean speed

̅𝑣𝑣 = 8𝑛𝑛𝑇𝑇 𝜋𝜋𝑚𝑚

1/2

Particle and energy flux

 The directed particle flux: the number of particles per square meter per second crossing the 𝑧𝑧 = 0 surface in the positive direction

Γ

= 1 4 𝑛𝑛 ̅𝑣𝑣

 The average energy flux: the amount of energy per square meter per second in the +𝑧𝑧 direction

𝑆𝑆

= 𝑛𝑛 1

2 𝑚𝑚𝑣𝑣

𝑣𝑣

𝒗𝒗

= 2𝑛𝑛𝑇𝑇Γ

 The average kinetic energy 𝑊𝑊 per particle crossing 𝑧𝑧 = 0 in the positive direction

𝑊𝑊 = 2𝑛𝑛𝑇𝑇

𝑣𝑣_𝑡𝑡𝑡 = 𝑛𝑛𝑇𝑇 𝑚𝑚

1/2

[H/W] Derive the following.

Diffusion and mobility

 The fluid equation of motion including collisions

 In steady-state, for isothermal plasmas 𝑚𝑚𝑛𝑛𝑑𝑑𝒖𝒖

𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = 𝑚𝑚𝑛𝑛

𝜕𝜕𝒖𝒖

𝜕𝜕𝑑𝑑 + 𝒖𝒖 � 𝜵𝜵 𝒖𝒖 = 𝑞𝑞𝑛𝑛𝑬𝑬 − 𝜵𝜵𝑝𝑝 − 𝑚𝑚𝑛𝑛𝜈𝜈^𝑚𝑚𝒖𝒖

𝒖𝒖 = 1

𝑚𝑚𝑛𝑛𝜈𝜈_𝑚𝑚 𝑞𝑞𝑛𝑛𝑬𝑬 − 𝜵𝜵𝑝𝑝 = 1

𝑚𝑚𝑛𝑛𝜈𝜈_𝑚𝑚 𝑞𝑞𝑛𝑛𝑬𝑬 − 𝑛𝑛𝑇𝑇𝜵𝜵𝑛𝑛

= 𝑞𝑞

𝑚𝑚𝜈𝜈_𝑚𝑚𝑬𝑬 − 𝑛𝑛𝑇𝑇 𝑚𝑚𝜈𝜈_𝑚𝑚

𝜵𝜵𝑛𝑛

𝑛𝑛 = ±𝜇𝜇𝑬𝑬 − 𝐷𝐷

𝜵𝜵𝑛𝑛 𝑛𝑛

 In terms of particle flux 𝚪𝚪 = 𝑛𝑛𝒖𝒖 = ±𝑛𝑛𝜇𝜇𝑬𝑬 − 𝐷𝐷𝜵𝜵𝑛𝑛

𝜇𝜇 = 𝑞𝑞

𝑚𝑚𝜈𝜈_𝑚𝑚 ∶ Mobility 𝐷𝐷 = 𝑛𝑛𝑇𝑇

𝑚𝑚𝜈𝜈_𝑚𝑚 ∶ Diffusion coefficient 𝜇𝜇 = 𝑞𝑞 𝐷𝐷

𝑛𝑛𝑇𝑇 ∶ Einstein relation Drift Diffusion

Ambipolar diffusion

 The flux of electrons and ions out of any region must be equal such that charge does not build up. Since the electrons are lighter, and would tend to flow out faster in an unmagnetized plasma, an electric field must spring up to maintain the local flux balance.

 The ambipolar diffusion coefficient for weakly ionized plasmas Γ_𝑐𝑐 = +𝑛𝑛𝜇𝜇_𝑐𝑐𝐸𝐸 − 𝐷𝐷_𝑐𝑐𝛻𝛻𝑛𝑛 Γ_𝑐𝑐 = −𝑛𝑛𝜇𝜇_𝑐𝑐𝐸𝐸 − 𝐷𝐷_𝑐𝑐𝛻𝛻𝑛𝑛

 Ambipolar electric field for Γ_𝑐𝑐 = Γ_𝑐𝑐 𝐸𝐸 = 𝐷𝐷_𝑐𝑐 − 𝐷𝐷_𝑐𝑐

𝜇𝜇_𝑐𝑐 + 𝜇𝜇_𝑐𝑐

𝛻𝛻𝑛𝑛 𝑛𝑛

 The common particle flux Γ = −𝜇𝜇_𝑐𝑐𝐷𝐷_𝑐𝑐 + 𝜇𝜇_𝑐𝑐𝐷𝐷_𝑐𝑐

𝜇𝜇_𝑐𝑐 + 𝜇𝜇_𝑐𝑐 𝛻𝛻𝑛𝑛 = −𝐷𝐷_𝑎𝑎𝛻𝛻𝑛𝑛

𝐷𝐷_𝑎𝑎 = 𝜇𝜇_𝑐𝑐𝐷𝐷_𝑐𝑐 + 𝜇𝜇_𝑐𝑐𝐷𝐷_𝑐𝑐

𝜇𝜇_𝑐𝑐 + 𝜇𝜇_𝑐𝑐 ≈ 𝐷𝐷_𝑐𝑐 + 𝜇𝜇_𝑐𝑐

𝜇𝜇_𝑐𝑐 𝐷𝐷_𝑐𝑐 ≈ 𝐷𝐷_𝑐𝑐 1 + T_e

T_i ~𝜇𝜇_𝑐𝑐T_e

Steady-state solutions

 Diffusion equation

𝜕𝜕𝑛𝑛

𝜕𝜕𝑑𝑑 − 𝐷𝐷𝛻𝛻²𝑛𝑛 = 𝐺𝐺 − 𝐿𝐿

volume source and sink

 For a plane-parallel geometry with no volume source or sink

−𝐷𝐷𝑑𝑑²𝑛𝑛

𝑑𝑑𝑥𝑥² = 0 𝑛𝑛 = 𝐼𝐼𝑥𝑥 + 𝐵𝐵

 For a uniform specified source of diffusing particles

−𝐷𝐷𝑑𝑑²𝑛𝑛

𝑑𝑑𝑥𝑥² = 𝐺𝐺₀ 𝑛𝑛 = 𝐺𝐺₀𝑙𝑙²

8𝐷𝐷 1 −

2𝑥𝑥 𝑙𝑙

2

𝑛𝑛 = Γ₀ 𝐷𝐷

𝑙𝑙 2 − 𝑥𝑥

B.C. Γ 𝑥𝑥 = 0 = Γ₀ 𝑛𝑛 𝑥𝑥 = 𝑙𝑙/2 = 0

B.C. symmetric at 𝑥𝑥 = 0 𝑛𝑛 𝑥𝑥 = ±𝑙𝑙/2 = 0

 The most common case is for a plasma consisting of positive ions and an equal number of electrons which are the source of ionization

𝛻𝛻²𝑛𝑛 + 𝜈𝜈_{𝑐𝑐𝑧𝑧}

𝐷𝐷 𝑛𝑛 = 0

where, 𝐷𝐷 = 𝐷𝐷_𝑎𝑎 and 𝜈𝜈_{𝑐𝑐𝑧𝑧} is the ionization frequency

𝑛𝑛₀ is determined

 PDE solved by separation of variables

[H/W] Find the solution in a cylinder with radius of R and height of H

Boltzmann’s relation

 The density of electrons in thermal equilibrium can be obtained from the electron force balance in the absence of the inertial, magnetic, and frictional forces

Setting 𝑬𝑬 = −𝜵𝜵Φ and assuming 𝑝𝑝_𝑐𝑐 = 𝑛𝑛_𝑐𝑐𝑛𝑛𝑇𝑇_𝑐𝑐

Integrating, we have 𝑚𝑚𝑛𝑛_𝑐𝑐 𝜕𝜕𝒖𝒖

𝜕𝜕𝑑𝑑 + 𝒖𝒖 � 𝜵𝜵 𝒖𝒖 = −𝑒𝑒𝑛𝑛^𝑐𝑐𝑬𝑬 − 𝜵𝜵𝑝𝑝_𝑐𝑐 − 𝑚𝑚𝑛𝑛_𝑐𝑐𝜈𝜈_𝑚𝑚𝒖𝒖

𝑒𝑒𝑛𝑛_𝑐𝑐𝜵𝜵Φ − 𝑛𝑛𝑇𝑇_𝑐𝑐𝜵𝜵𝑛𝑛_𝑐𝑐 = 𝑛𝑛_𝑐𝑐𝜵𝜵 𝑒𝑒Φ − 𝑛𝑛𝑇𝑇_𝑐𝑐ln𝑛𝑛_𝑐𝑐 = 0

𝑛𝑛_𝑐𝑐 𝒓𝒓 = 𝑛𝑛₀exp 𝑒𝑒Φ 𝒓𝒓

𝑛𝑛𝑇𝑇_𝑐𝑐 = 𝑛𝑛₀exp Φ 𝒓𝒓

T_e Boltzmann’s relation for electrons

 For positive ions in thermal equilibrium at temperature T_i 𝑛𝑛_𝑐𝑐(𝒓𝒓) = 𝑛𝑛₀exp −Φ(𝒓𝒓) T_i

 However, positive ions are almost never in thermal equilibrium in low pressure discharges because the ion drift velocity 𝑢𝑢_𝑖𝑖 is large, leading to inertial or frictional

Debye shielding (screening)

 Coulomb potential

 Screened Coulomb potential Φ 𝑟𝑟 = 𝑄𝑄

4𝜋𝜋𝜖𝜖₀𝑟𝑟

Φ 𝑟𝑟 = 𝑄𝑄

4𝜋𝜋𝜖𝜖₀𝑟𝑟exp − 𝑟𝑟 𝜆𝜆_𝐷𝐷

𝛻𝛻²Φ = −𝑒𝑒𝑛𝑛₀

𝜖𝜖₀ 1 − 𝑒𝑒^{𝑐𝑐Φ/𝑘𝑘𝑇𝑇𝑒𝑒} ≈ 𝑒𝑒²𝑛𝑛₀

𝜖𝜖₀𝑛𝑛𝑇𝑇_𝑐𝑐 Φ = Φ 𝜆𝜆_𝐷𝐷²

 Poisson’s equation

 Debye length 𝜆𝜆_𝐷𝐷 = 𝜖𝜖₀𝑛𝑛𝑇𝑇_𝑐𝑐

𝑒𝑒²𝑛𝑛₀

1/2

= 𝜖𝜖₀T_e 𝑒𝑒𝑛𝑛₀

1/2

Plasma

Debye length

𝜆𝜆_𝐷𝐷 cm = 𝜖𝜖₀T_e 𝑒𝑒𝑛𝑛₀

1 2⁄

= 743 T_e eV

𝑛𝑛₀ cm⁻³ = 743 4

10¹⁰ ≈ 0.14 mm

 The electron Debye length 𝜆𝜆_{𝐷𝐷𝑐𝑐} is the characteristic length scale in a plasma.

 The Debye length is the distance scale over which significant charge densities can spontaneously exist. For example, low-voltage (undriven) sheaths are typically a few Debye lengths wide.

+ -

- - - -

+ + +

+

λ_D Quasi-neutrality?

 Typical values for a processing plasma (n_e = 10¹⁰ cm^-3, T_e = 4 eV)

 It is on space scales larger than a Debye length that the plasma will tend to remain neutral.

 The Debye length serves as a characteristic scale length to shield the Coulomb potentials of individual charged particles when they collide.

Quasi-neutrality

 The potential variation across a plasma of length 𝑙𝑙 ≫ 𝜆𝜆_{𝐷𝐷𝑐𝑐} can be estimated from Poisson’s equation

We generally expect that

Then, we obtain

𝛻𝛻²Φ~Φ

𝑙𝑙² ~ 𝑒𝑒

𝜖𝜖₀ 𝑍𝑍𝑛𝑛_𝑐𝑐 − 𝑛𝑛_𝑐𝑐

Φ ≲ T_e = 𝑛𝑛_𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑒 𝜖𝜖₀ 𝜆𝜆_{𝐷𝐷𝑐𝑐}²

𝑍𝑍𝑛𝑛_𝑐𝑐 − 𝑛𝑛_𝑐𝑐

𝑛𝑛_𝑐𝑐 ~Φ 𝑙𝑙²

𝜖𝜖₀ 𝑛𝑛_𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑒 ≲

𝜆𝜆_{𝐷𝐷𝑐𝑐}²

𝑙𝑙² ≪ 1 𝑍𝑍𝑛𝑛_𝑐𝑐 = 𝑛𝑛_𝑐𝑐

Plasma approximation

 The plasma approximation is violated within a plasma sheath, in proximity to a material wall, either because the sheath thickness s ≈ 𝜆𝜆_{𝐷𝐷𝑐𝑐}, or because Φ ≫ T_e.

Plasma oscillations

 Electrons overshoot by inertia and oscillate around their equilibrium position with a characteristic frequency known as plasma frequency.

 Equation of motion (cold plasma)

 Electron plasma frequency 𝜔𝜔_{𝑝𝑝𝑐𝑐} = 𝑛𝑛₀𝑒𝑒²

𝑚𝑚𝜖𝜖₀

1/2

 If the assumption of infinite mass ions is not made, then the ions also move slightly and we obtain the natural frequency

𝜔𝜔 = 𝜔𝜔² + 𝜔𝜔^{2 1/2} where, 𝜔𝜔 = 𝑛𝑛 𝑒𝑒²/𝑀𝑀𝜖𝜖 ^1/2 (ion plasma frequency)

𝑚𝑚𝑑𝑑²∆𝑥𝑥

𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑² = −𝑒𝑒𝐸𝐸_𝑥𝑥 = −𝑒𝑒𝑛𝑛₀𝑒𝑒∆𝑥𝑥 𝜖𝜖₀ 𝑑𝑑²∆𝑥𝑥

𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑² + 𝑛𝑛₀𝑒𝑒²

𝑚𝑚𝜖𝜖₀ ∆𝑥𝑥 = 0  Harmonic oscillator

Plasma frequency

 Plasma oscillation frequency for electrons and ions 𝑓𝑓_{𝑝𝑝𝑐𝑐} = 𝜔𝜔_{𝑝𝑝𝑐𝑐}

2𝜋𝜋 = 8980 𝑛𝑛⁰ Hz 𝑛𝑛₀ in cm⁻³ 𝑓𝑓_{𝑝𝑝𝑐𝑐} = 𝜔𝜔_{𝑝𝑝𝑐𝑐}

2𝜋𝜋 = 210 𝑛𝑛⁰/𝑀𝑀_𝐴𝐴 Hz 𝑛𝑛₀ in cm⁻³, 𝑀𝑀_𝐴𝐴 in amu

 Typical values for a processing plasma (Ar) 𝑓𝑓_{𝑝𝑝𝑐𝑐} = 𝜔𝜔_{𝑝𝑝𝑐𝑐}

2𝜋𝜋 = 8980 10¹⁰ Hz = 9 × 10⁸ [Hz]

𝑓𝑓_{𝑝𝑝𝑐𝑐} = 𝜔𝜔_{𝑝𝑝𝑐𝑐}

2𝜋𝜋 = 210 10¹⁰/40 Hz = 3.3 × 10⁶ [Hz]

 Collective behavior

𝜔𝜔_{𝑝𝑝𝑐𝑐}𝜏𝜏 > 1 Plasma frequency > collision frequency

Criteria for plasmas

 Criteria for plasmas:

𝜆𝜆_𝐷𝐷 ≪ 𝐿𝐿

𝜔𝜔 𝜏𝜏 > 1 𝑁𝑁_𝐷𝐷 ≫ 1 𝑁𝑁_𝐷𝐷 = 𝑛𝑛4

3 𝜋𝜋𝜆𝜆^𝐷𝐷3

 The picture of Debye shielding is valid only if there are enough particles in the charge cloud. Clearly, if there are only one or two particles in the sheath region, Debye shielding would not be a statistically valid concept. We can compute the number of particles in a “Debye sphere”:

 Plasma parameter Λ = 4𝜋𝜋𝑛𝑛𝜆𝜆_𝐷𝐷³ = 3𝑁𝑁_𝐷𝐷

 Coupling parameter Γ = Coulomb energy

Thermal energy =

𝑞𝑞²/(4𝜋𝜋𝜖𝜖₀𝑎𝑎)

𝑛𝑛𝑇𝑇_𝑐𝑐 ~Λ^−2/3

Wigner-Seitz radius 𝑎𝑎 = ³ 4𝜋𝜋𝑛𝑛_𝑐𝑐/3

Formation of plasma sheaths

 Plasma sheath: the non-neutral potential region between the plasma and the wall caused by the balanced flow of particles with different mobility such as electrons and ions.

Plasma-sheath structure