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Modulated electron cyclotron drift instability in a high-power pulsed magnetron discharge
Sedina Tsikata1, Tiberiu Minea2
1ICARE, UPR 3021 CNRS, 1C Avenue de la Recherche Scientifique, 45071 Orléans, France.
Physical Review Letters
|May 23, 2015
Summary
The electron cyclotron drift instability was detected in planar magnetron plasma, impacting electron heating and transport. This instability shows modulation linked to plasma density variations and escaping electrons.
Area of Science:
- Plasma Physics
- Magnetron Technology
- Instability Phenomena
Background:
- The electron cyclotron drift instability (ECDI) is crucial for understanding electron heating and anomalous transport in plasmas.
- Planar magnetrons are widely used in various applications, making their plasma behavior a key research area.
Purpose of the Study:
- To detect and characterize the electron cyclotron drift instability in a planar magnetron.
- To investigate the relationship between ECDI, plasma density fluctuations, and electron behavior.
Main Methods:
- Utilized an adapted coherent Thomson scattering diagnostic to identify electron density fluctuations.
- Performed time-resolved analysis of instability amplitude under DC and pulsed magnetron operation.
Main Results:
- Confirmed the presence of ECDI at MHz frequencies and millimeter scales in planar magnetron plasma.
- Observed kHz-scale modulation of the instability, correlating with larger plasma density nonuniformities like rotating spokes.
- Identified sharply collimated axial fluctuations at the magnetron axis, indicative of escaping electrons.
Conclusions:
- The findings differentiate magnetron plasma physics from similar devices like Hall thrusters.
- Broadens the understanding of instabilities governing magnetron plasma characteristics.
- Highlights the role of ECDI in electron heating and anomalous transport within magnetrons.
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