Transition characteristics and electron kinetics in microhollow cathode discharges
Abstract
We demonstrate the transition characteristics and electron kinetics of microdischarges in a microgap with a cathode having microstructures using two-dimensional particle-in-cell/Monte Carlo collision (2d3v) simulations. It is found that the microdischarge is inside the hollow cavity at lower pressures, forming microhollow cathode discharges (MHCDs), while the dominant discharge moves outside the cavity at higher pressures, locating above the cathode rectangular protrusion tip. The spatial distributions of the microdischarge parameters (e.g., electric potential and electron density) are presented by capturing the transition characteristics. The electron kinetics of the microdischarges are examined based on the moment analysis of the electron Boltzmann equation. The collisional and non-collisional components of the electron power absorption are decomposed, which were seldomly investigated for microdischarges previously. The results provide fundamental insights into MHCD formation with a structured electrode at varying pressure conditions, which could be beneficial for the design and fabrication of microplasma devices in practical applications.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Jan 08, 2021
- Source ID
- 10.1063/5.0033282
Entities
People
- Bocong Zheng
- John Verboncoeur
- Peng Zhang
- Qi Hua Fan
- Yangyang Fu
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- Michigan State University
- National Science Foundation
- United States Department of Energy