Physics of Collisional Plasmas

Introducing the physics of collisional plasmas as opposed to plasmas in space, this book examines the motion of charged particles, describes their motion according to a hydrodynamic model and explores energy balance. Offers many figures, and solved problems.

This text is an introduction to the physics of collisional plasmas, as opposed to plasmas in space. It is intended for graduate students in physics and engineering . The first chapter introduces with progressively increasing detail, the fundamental concepts of plasma physic. The motion of individual charged particles in various configurations of electric and magnetic fields is detailed in the second chapter while the third chapter considers the collective motion of the plasma particles described according to a hydrodynamic model. The fourth chapter is most original in that it introduces a general approach to energy balance, valid for all types of discharges comprising direct current(DC) and high frequency (HF) discharges, including an applied static magnetic field. The basic concepts required in this fourth chapter have been progressively introduced in the previous chapters.

The text is enriched with approx. 100 figures, and alphabetical index and 45 fully resolved problems. Mathematical and physical appendices provide complementary information or allow to go deeper in a given subject.

Provides a clear, graduate-level introduction to plasma physics starting from the basic concepts Includes 100 illustrations and 45 fully resolved problems Presents an original and generally applicable approach to energy balance in plasma discharges An ideal compendium for those working with plasma discharges used in laboratories and industries Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Autorentext

Michel Moisan, Professor in the Physics Department of the Université de Montréal (Québec) is a well-known specialist of HF generated discharges. He currently works on a plasma steriliser for medical devices. He is co-inventor in 31 different patents, including the surfatron and surfaguide surface-wave launchers to sustain HF discharges.
Jacques Pelletier is Emeritus Research Director (CNRS) in the Laboratory of Subatomic Physics and Cosmology, Grenoble (France). He designed several generations of plasma-source technologies based on the concept of distributed elementary microwave-plasma sources. He currently works on the design of low-energy plasmas for lighting. He is co-inventor in over 40 patents.
Both authors contributed to create the International Laboratory on Plasma Applications and Technologies (LITAP) with research groups from France and Québec working on different aspects of low pressure microwave plasma technologies and their application to certain domains (biology, thin films, etching).
They have taught at undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate levels. Through this book, their experience as teachers and researchers in cooperation with industry is made available to all readers interested in the fascinating domain of plasma.

Klappentext

The Physics of Collisional Plasmas deals with the plasma physics of interest to laboratory research and industrial applications, such as lighting, fabrication of microelectronics, destruction of greenhouse gases. Its emphasis is on explaining the physical mechanisms, rather than the detailed mathematical description and theoretical analysis. At the introductory level, it is important to convey the characteristic physical phenomena of plasmas, before addressing the ultimate formalism of kinetic theory, with its microscopic, statistical mechanics approach. To this aim, this text translates the physical phenomena into more tractable equations, using the hydrodynamic model; this considers the plasma as a fluid, in which the macroscopic physical parameters are the statistical averages of the microscopic (individual) parameters.

This book is an introduction to the physics of collisional plasmas, as opposed to plasmas in space. It is intended for graduate students in physics and engineering . The first chapter introduces with progressively increasing detail, the fundamental concepts of plasma physic. The motion of individual charged particles in various configurations of electric and magnetic fields is detailed in the second chapter while the third chapter considers the collective motion of the plasma particles described according to a hydrodynamic model. The fourth chapter is most original in that it introduces a general approach to energy balance, valid for all types of discharges comprising direct current(DC) and high frequency (HF) discharges, including an applied static magnetic field. The basic concepts required in this fourth chapter have been progressively introduced in the previous chapters.

The text is enriched with approx. 100 figures, and alphabetical index and 45 fully resolved problems. Mathematical and physical appendices provide complementary information or allow to go deeper in a given subject.

Inhalt

Preface.- Acknowledgments.- Symbols.- Acronyms.- Physical constants.- Other constants.- 1 The Plasma State: Definition and orders of magnitude of principal quantities.- 2 Individual motion of a charged particle in electric and magnetic fields.- 3 Hydrodynamic description of a plasma.- 4 Introduction to the physics of HF discharges.- Appendices I XIX.- References.- Recommended reading.- Index.