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Modeling inductively coupled plasmas: The coil current boundary condition

Journal Article · · Journal of Applied Physics; (USA)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.347345· OSTI ID:6203094
;  [1]
  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455 (US)
In modeling inductively coupled plasmas, the boundary condition for the electromagnetic field equations can be treated by specifying either the current in the induction coil or the total power dissipated in the plasma. This paper presents a method for using the coil current boundary condition. An advantage of using the coil current boundary condition is that coil current, unlike plasma power dissipation, is easily measured; in this approach the plasma power dissipation is an outcome of the calculation. The results of sample calculations are presented, covering a range of coil currents from 59 to 110 A. The conditions of the calculations correspond to experimental argon plasmas at atmospheric pressure and at 3.0 MHz frequency. The calculated isotherms are in good qualitative agreement with photographs of the laboratory plasmas.
OSTI ID:
6203094
Journal Information:
Journal of Applied Physics; (USA), Journal Name: Journal of Applied Physics; (USA) Vol. 69:2; ISSN 0021-8979; ISSN JAPIA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English