The onset of plasma potential locking

Hopkins, Matthew M.; Yee, Benjamin T.; Baalrud, Scott D.; Barnat, Edward V.

doi:10.1063/1.4953896

Title: The onset of plasma potential locking

Abstract

In this paper, we provide insight into the role and impact that a positively biased electrode (anode) has on bulk plasma potential. Using two-dimensional Particle-in-Cell simulations, we investigate the plasma potential as an anode transitions from very small (“probe” mode) to large (“locking” mode). Prior theory provides some guidance on when and how this transition takes place. Initial experimental results are also compared. The simulations demonstrate that as the surface area of the anode is increased transitions in plasma potential and sheath polarity occur, consistent with experimental observations and theoretical predictions. It is expected that understanding this basic plasma behavior will be of interest to basic plasma physics communities, diagnostic developers, and plasma processing devices where control of bulk plasma potential is important.

Authors:

Hopkins, Matthew M. ^[1]; Yee, Benjamin T. ^[1]; Baalrud, Scott D. ^[2]; Barnat, Edward V. ^[1]

Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Univ. of Iowa, Iowa City, IA (United States)

Publication Date:: Wed Jun 22 00:00:00 EDT 2016

Research Org.:: Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Fusion Energy Sciences (FES)

OSTI Identifier:: 1327907

Alternate Identifier(s):: OSTI ID: 1420679

Report Number(s):: SAND-2016-9434J
Journal ID: ISSN 1070-664X; PHPAEN; 647634

Grant/Contract Number:: AC04-94AL85000; AC04-94SL85000

Resource Type:: Accepted Manuscript

Journal Name:: Physics of Plasmas

Additional Journal Information:: Journal Volume: 23; Journal Issue: 6; Journal ID: ISSN 1070-664X

Publisher:: American Institute of Physics (AIP)

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Subject:: 70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY; anodes; plasma sheaths; dielectrics; computational models; plasma diagnostics

Citation Formats


                    Hopkins, Matthew M., Yee, Benjamin T., Baalrud, Scott D., and Barnat, Edward V. The onset of plasma potential locking.  United States: N. p., 2016. 
Web.  doi:10.1063/1.4953896.

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                    Hopkins, Matthew M., Yee, Benjamin T., Baalrud, Scott D., & Barnat, Edward V. The onset of plasma potential locking.  United States.  https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4953896

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                    Hopkins, Matthew M., Yee, Benjamin T., Baalrud, Scott D., and Barnat, Edward V. Wed .  
"The onset of plasma potential locking".  United States.  https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4953896.  https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1327907.

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@article{osti_1327907,

  title        = {The onset of plasma potential locking},

  author       = {Hopkins, Matthew M. and Yee, Benjamin T. and Baalrud, Scott D. and Barnat, Edward V.},

  abstractNote = {In this paper, we provide insight into the role and impact that a positively biased electrode (anode) has on bulk plasma potential. Using two-dimensional Particle-in-Cell simulations, we investigate the plasma potential as an anode transitions from very small (“probe” mode) to large (“locking” mode). Prior theory provides some guidance on when and how this transition takes place. Initial experimental results are also compared. The simulations demonstrate that as the surface area of the anode is increased transitions in plasma potential and sheath polarity occur, consistent with experimental observations and theoretical predictions. It is expected that understanding this basic plasma behavior will be of interest to basic plasma physics communities, diagnostic developers, and plasma processing devices where control of bulk plasma potential is important.},

  doi          = {10.1063/1.4953896},

  journal      = {Physics of Plasmas},

  number       = 6,

  volume       = 23,

  place        = {United States},

  year         = {Wed Jun 22 00:00:00 EDT 2016},

  month        = {Wed Jun 22 00:00:00 EDT 2016}

}

Copy to clipboard

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Works referenced in this record:

Principles of Plasma Discharges and Materials Processing
book, January 2005

Lieberman, Michael A.; Lichtenberg, Allan J.
DOI: 10.1002/0471724254

The Collection of Positive Ions by a Probe Immersed in a Plasma
journal, March 1957

Allen, J. E.; Boyd, R. L. F.; Reynolds, P.
Proceedings of the Physical Society. Section B, Vol. 70, Issue 3
DOI: 10.1088/0370-1301/70/3/303

The use of electrostatic probes for plasma diagnostics?A review
journal, June 1982

Cherrington, B. E.
Plasma Chemistry and Plasma Processing, Vol. 2, Issue 2
DOI: 10.1007/BF00633129

Mackenzie's Demon with instabilities
journal, October 2013

Yip, Chi-Shung; Sheehan, J. P.; Hershkowitz, Noah
Plasma Sources Science and Technology, Vol. 22, Issue 6
DOI: 10.1088/0963-0252/22/6/065002

Manipulating the electron distribution through a combination of electron injection and MacKenzie’s Maxwell Demon
journal, May 2015

Yip, Chi-Shung; Hershkowitz, Noah
Plasma Sources Science and Technology, Vol. 24, Issue 3
DOI: 10.1088/0963-0252/24/3/034004

Global nonambipolar flow: Plasma confinement where all electrons are lost to one boundary and all positive ions to another boundary
journal, April 2007

Baalrud, S. D.; Hershkowitz, N.; Longmier, B.
Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 14, Issue 4
DOI: 10.1063/1.2722262

Response of the plasma to the size of an anode electrode biased near the plasma potential
journal, October 2014

Barnat, E. V.; Laity, G. R.; Baalrud, S. D.
Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 21, Issue 10
DOI: 10.1063/1.4897927

Particle-in-cell simulations of a current-free double layer
journal, June 2011

Baalrud, S. D.; Lafleur, T.; Boswell, R. W.
Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 18, Issue 6
DOI: 10.1063/1.3594565

Plasma Physics via Computer Simulation
book, January 1991

Birdsall, C. K.; Langdon, A. B.
DOI: 10.1887/0750301171

Theory of the electron sheath and presheath
journal, December 2015

Scheiner, Brett; Baalrud, Scott D.; Yee, Benjamin T.
Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 22, Issue 12
DOI: 10.1063/1.4939024

Works referencing / citing this record:

Radiation transport in kinetic simulations and the influence of photoemission on electron current in self-sustaining discharges
journal, January 2017

Fierro, Andrew; Moore, Chris; Scheiner, Brett
Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics, Vol. 50, Issue 6
DOI: 10.1088/1361-6463/aa506c

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Similar Records

Title: The onset of plasma potential locking

Abstract

Citation Formats

Principles of Plasma Discharges and Materials Processing book, January 2005

The Collection of Positive Ions by a Probe Immersed in a Plasma journal, March 1957

The use of electrostatic probes for plasma diagnostics?A review journal, June 1982

Mackenzie's Demon with instabilities journal, October 2013

Manipulating the electron distribution through a combination of electron injection and MacKenzie’s Maxwell Demon journal, May 2015

Global nonambipolar flow: Plasma confinement where all electrons are lost to one boundary and all positive ions to another boundary journal, April 2007

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Particle-in-cell simulations of a current-free double layer journal, June 2011

Plasma Physics via Computer Simulation book, January 1991

Theory of the electron sheath and presheath journal, December 2015

Radiation transport in kinetic simulations and the influence of photoemission on electron current in self-sustaining discharges journal, January 2017

Principles of Plasma Discharges and Materials Processing
book, January 2005

The Collection of Positive Ions by a Probe Immersed in a Plasma
journal, March 1957

The use of electrostatic probes for plasma diagnostics?A review
journal, June 1982

Mackenzie's Demon with instabilities
journal, October 2013

Manipulating the electron distribution through a combination of electron injection and MacKenzie’s Maxwell Demon
journal, May 2015

Global nonambipolar flow: Plasma confinement where all electrons are lost to one boundary and all positive ions to another boundary
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journal, October 2014

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book, January 1991

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journal, December 2015

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journal, January 2017