Open AccessSimulation and modeling of radio-frequency atmospheric pressure plasmas in the non-neutral regime
Author(s) -
Maximilian Klich,
Sebastian Wilczek,
Zoltán Donkó,
Ralf Peter Brinkmann
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
plasma sources science and technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.9
H-Index - 108
eISSN - 1361-6595
pISSN - 0963-0252
DOI - 10.1088/1361-6595/ac5cd3
Subject(s) - electron , computational physics , physics , particle in cell , soliton , plasma , boltzmann constant , diffusion , boltzmann equation , statistical physics , stability (learning theory) , monte carlo method , atomic physics , nonlinear system , quantum mechanics , computer science , statistics , mathematics , machine learning
Radio-frequency-driven atmospheric pressure plasma jets (RF APPJs) play an essential role in many technological applications. This work studies the characteristics of these discharges in the so-called non-neutral regime where the conventional structure of a quasi-neutral bulk and an electron depleted sheath does not develop, and the electrons are instead organized in a drift-soliton-like structure that never reaches quasi-neutrality. A hybrid particle-in-cell/Monte Carlo collisions (PIC/MCC) simulation is set up, which combines a fully kinetic electron model via the PIC/MCC algorithm with a drift-diffusion model for the ions. In addition, an analytical model for the electron dynamics is formulated. The formation of the soliton-like structure and the connection between the soliton and the electron dynamics are investigated. The location of the electron group follows a drift equation, while the spatial shape can be described by Poisson–Boltzmann equilibrium in a co-moving frame. A stability analysis is conducted using the Lyapunov method and a linear stability analysis. A comparison of the numerical simulation with the analytical models yields a good agreement.