COULOMB COLLISIONS IN STRONG RF ELECTRIC FIELDS
Abstract
An expression was derived for the electron-ion collision frequency in rf electric fields. The rf collision frequency is nearly given by Spitzer's usual collision frequency formula, when the temperature is modified to include the rms electron energy. The expression depends on the electronion scattering interaction time being small compared to one rf period. It normally applies only to strong rf electric fields, but under some circumstances it also applies to weak rf electric fields. The derivation is non-relativistic and so applies only to a range of rf electric field strengths. Rf power losses are calculated assuming that multiple Coulomb collisions are the dominant loss mechanism. When heating is neglected, the rf power loss for the strong rf electric field case becomes substantially independent of rf power level. For plane waves propagating through plasmas, the rf losses actually decrease as the rf power level increases. For devices employing reflection of plane waves from plasmas, the rf power loss is approximately given by using an electric field strength corresponding to the electron's rf velocity being twice its thermal velocity, and using the thermal collision frequency. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 24, 1961
- Accession Number
- AD0271764
Entities
People
- G. August
Organizations
- University of California, Berkeley