Kinetic theory of the high-frequency part of the slow electromagnetic mode in weakly ionized gas-discharge argon plasma with inelastic collisions
Abstract
The spectral characteristics of the high-frequency part of the slow electromagnetic mode, specific for plasmas placed in an external d.c. electric field, as well as the features of the corresponding instability, are analysed for weakly ionized argon gas-discharge plasmas with E/n ranging from 25 to 150 Td, and with electron temperatures between 60000 and 70000 K. The analysis is based on the linear theory of perturbation, and the dynamics of the electrons is described by appropriately modified kinetic equations for the one-particle distribution function. Attention is focused on the collisional processes between electrons and neutrals, and both elastic and excitational collisions are taken into account. Apart from the ‘indirect’ collision effects (modifications of the form of the electron steady-state distribution function, evaluated here analytically, with the thermal motion of the neutrals included), their ‘direct’ influence (arising from perturbations of the collision integrals) is also significant in the electron temperature range considered. As a consequence of the ‘direct’ influence of inelastic collisions, in particular, the mode studied was found to exist in two distinctly separate wavelength ranges. The instability was found to develop only in the one corresponding to shorter wavelengths (below some 30 cm).
- Publication:
-
Journal of Plasma Physics
- Pub Date:
- October 1987
- DOI:
- 10.1017/S0022377800012538
- Bibcode:
- 1987JPlPh..38..223Z
- Keywords:
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- Argon Plasma;
- Collisional Plasmas;
- Kinetic Theory;
- Plasma Frequencies;
- Electron Distribution;
- Electron Energy;
- Magnetohydrodynamic Stability;
- Spectral Energy Distribution;
- Plasma Physics