Analysis of propagating microwave heated plasmas in hydrogen, helium and nitrogen

Results of a one-dimensional analysis of a planar plasma region maintained by microwave radiation and propagating toward the radiation source by thermal conduction have been obtained. The one-dimensional energy balance and electromagnetic equations were solved numerically for hydrogen and helium gas at pressures of one and ten atmospheres, and for nitrogen at one atmosphere. Incident microwave powers from 750 to 3000 watts at a frequency of 2.45 GHz were evaluated. The analytical results predict the plasma propagation velocities, maximum gas temperatures and percent powers absorbed, reflected and transmitted.