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Generation of energetic electrons in pulsed microwave plasmas
Author(s) -
Lee Min Uk,
Lee Jae Koo,
Yun Gunsu S.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
plasma processes and polymers
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.644
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1612-8869
pISSN - 1612-8850
DOI - 10.1002/ppap.201700124
Subject(s) - electron , atomic physics , microwave , microplasma , plasma , helium , materials science , ion , chemistry , physics , nuclear physics , organic chemistry , quantum mechanics
Pulsed microwave driven microplasma at atmospheric pressure is proposed as an efficient source of energetic electrons for low‐temperature biomedical applications. Energetic electrons are required to break the covalent bonds of nitrogen, oxygen, and water molecules in humid air and produce reactive species. Particle‐in‐cell (PIC) simulations demonstrate that the energetic electrons with energy greater than 10 eV (capable of breaking the bond of nitrogen molecules) can be produced much more efficiently in pulsed microwave helium plasmas than in pulsed DC or continuous microwave plasmas. In particular, fast heating and cooling of electrons are observed at the rising edge and the falling edge of the pulse, respectively. This phenomenon is consistent with the fluid analysis showing the electrons’ energy gain via collective motion and collisional loss to the neutral particles.