plasma Flashcards
quasi neutrality
a plasma is made up of atoms and molecules that have been ionised, therefore has a mixture of neutral and charged species. The opposite charged particles are strongly coupled and tend to electrically neutralize one and other on a macroscopic length scale
quasi neutrality equation
ne + ni = ni+
plasma is composed of
charged particles (ions and electrons) reactive neutrals, electric fields (from moving charged paricles ) and photons
thermodynamic equilibrium of plasma
plasma do not have to be in thermal equilibrium, electrons gain energy from the electric fields and are relatively hot compared to the heavier background gas and ions due to large mass difference between heavier particles and electrons there is poor energy transfer between these particles. The small percentage of electrons are hot, while the dominant background gas remains cold
the bohr model
Electrons in atoms and molecules can be raised to higher energy states electrons can only be in specific orbits around the central neucleus. These orbits have discrete energy states
light production
population of an excited level, through for example impac. excitation and subsequent relaxation of this excited state to a lower level, relasing a photon with energy equivalent to the difference in energy levels
degree of ionisation equation
I=ne/(ne+no)
ne = electron density no = number denisty of neutral atoms
EEDF
electron energy distribution function
the prob. of an electron to have a given energy density
difference between a plasma and gas
plasma has charged particles and its thus inflluenced by electric and magnetic fields
high energy electrons
sustain the plasma
general formula for energy distribution
f(E) = const exp (-E/KbT)
Total energy of particles equation
E=m|V|^2 /2 +e(phi)
elastic collisions
momentum chance, no energy change no particles change
inelastic collisions
momentum change
energy change
particles change
examples of inelastic collisions
photoionisation, De-excitation, Stimualted emission
collision cross-section
sigma , quantify the probability of a collision occuring between two or more particles (depending on energy) and has a dimension of m^2
mean free path
average distance a particle moves before it collides
time between collisions equation
tau =lambda/V
where v is the speed of particles travelling in beam
collision frequency equation
(greek v thing) =tau^-1 = ngsigmaV=ngk
k rate of interaction per atom of gas
reaction rate equation
Rab=nanbkab
the number of collisions between particles of type a and b given by rab units Rab= m^-3s^-2
energy thresholds
ionisation energy of atoms and molecules 10-20 ev
excitation 8-12
binding energy of molecules 1-6ev
coulombs law Force equation
F=1/4π(epsion) q1q2/r^2
coulombs law E
due to a single charge, electric field E
E=1/4π(epsilon) q/r^2
E=-dphi/dx
poisson equation
electric field due to a collection of charges is given by poissons equation
E(x)=1/epsilon ∫(sigma)dx
in differential form;
d^2 phi/dx^2 = -e/epsilon (ni-ne)
charged particles motion equation
F=md^2r/dt^2
d^2r/dt^2 =qE/m
Lorentz force
only exsits when charges are moving
F=1(E+V ^ B)
flux of charge
=nu
example of collective behaviour
plasma oscillations
plasma frequncys
an electric field can be set up in a plasma if there is disturbance to quasi neutrality , electrons move inresponse to the fields as they accelerate they over shoot zero field position due to their inertia an oscillation is set up in the plasma
debye shielding
plasma screen out electric fieldsm ions are repelled outwards and electrons inwards
debye length
length over which changes in potential are attneuated (lambda D)