In a wide variety of applications such as the Hall thruster and the tokamak, understanding the plasma-material interactions which take place at the wall is important for improving performance and preventing failure due to material degradation. In the region near a surface, the plasma sheath forms and regulates the electron and ion fluxes into the material. Emission from the material has the potential to change sheath structure drastically, and must be modeled rigorously to produce accurate predictions of the fluxes into the wall. Continuum kinetic codes offer significant advantages for the modeling of sheath physics, but the complexity of emission physics makes it difficult to implement accurately. This difficulty results in major simplifications which often neglect important energy-dependent physics. A focus of the work is on proper simulation of the sheath. The implementation of source and collision terms is discussed, alongside a brief study of the Weibel instability in the sheath demonstrating the necessity of proper collision implementation to avoid missing relevant physics. A novel implementation of semi-empirical models for electron-impact secondary electron emission into the boundary conditions of a continuum kinetic code is presented here. The features of both high and low energy regimes of emission are represented self-consistently, and the underlying algorithms are flexible and can be easily extended to other emission mechanisms, such as ion-impact secondary electron emission. The models are applied to simulations of oxidized and clean lithium for fusion-relevant plasma regimes. Oxidized lithium has a high emission coefficent and the sheath transitions into space-charge limited and inverse modes for different parameters. The breakdown of the classical sheath results in an increase of energy fluxes to the surface, with potential ramification for applications. / Doctor of Philosophy / Great advances are being made in a variety of promising applications of plasma physics, such as the development of spacecraft thrusters and fusion devices. Many of these devices constrain the flow of plasma within a material channel, leading degradation of the wall due to particle impact to be a serious concern for durability and lifespan. The plasma sheath is a region next to these material surfaces where ions are accelerated towards the wall, while electrons are repelled. As particles from the sheath impact the material, they cause the emission of secondary particles back into the sheath. This can drastically change the expected fluxes into the material and consequently the degradation expected to occur. Continuum kinetic simulations are a valuable tool for predicting and modeling the evolution of the sheath, but they are limited in their ability to rigorously do material emission physics by their inability to directly represent particle interactions with the surface. As such, past treatments of material emission in continuum kinetics tend to sacrifice valuable energy-dependent physics for simplified models.par To facilitate better understanding of the effects of emission on the sheath and the ramifications it might have for applications, the work here seeks to develop a framework for capturing the entire range of energy-dependent emission physics within a continuum kinetic framework. The implementation relies on semi-empirical models of beam emission data, focusing on simplicity and flexibility while still capturing the separate emission mechanisms which dominate in different energy regimes. The model is applied to simulations of lithium, an important material for fusion applications. Oxidized lithium has significantly enhanced emission properties over clean lithium, and is found to undergo a shift to non-monotonic sheath modes. The results show that the fundamental changes in the sheath structure due to the increased emission lead to greater energy fluxes into the surface. In this work, only secondary electron emission from the impact of electrons on a surface is examined. However, the underlying algorithms are easily extended to other energy-dependent energy mechanisms, such as ion-impact secondary electron emission.

No description available.

Thesis (M.S.)--East Carolina University, 2009. / Presented to the faculty of the Department of Physics. Advisor: Michael Dingfelder. Title from PDF t.p. (viewed Apr. 23, 2010). Includes bibliographical references.

In the nanoscale metrology industry, there is a need for low-cost instruments, which have the ability to probe the structrure and elemental composition of thin films. This dissertation, describes the research performed to design and simulate a miniature Cylindrical Mirror Analyzer, (CMA), and Auger Electron Spectrometer, (AES). The CMA includes an integrated coaxial thermionic electron source. Electron optics simulations were performed using the Finite Element Method, (FEM), software COMSOL. To address the large Secondary Electron, (SE), noise, inherent in AES spectra, this research also included experiments to create structures in materials, which were intended to suppress SE backgound noise in the CMA. Laser Beam Machining, (LBM), of copper substrates was used to create copper pillars with very high surface areas, which were designed to supress SE’s. The LBM was performed with a Lumera SUPER RAPID‐HE model Neodymium Vanadate laser. The laser has a peak output power of 30 megawatts, has a 5x lens and a spot size of 16 μm. The laser wavelength is in the infrared at 1064 nm, a pulse width of 15 picoseconds, and pulse repetition rate up to 100 kHz. The spectrometer used in this research is intended for use when performing chemical analysis of the surface of bulk materials and thin films. It is applicable for metrology of thin films, as low as 0.4 nm in thickness, without the need to perform destructive sample thinning, which is required in Scanning Tranmission Electron Microscopy, (STEM). The spectrometer design is based on the well known and widely used coaxial cylinder capacitor design known as the Cylindrical Mirror Analyzer, (CMA). The coaxial tube arrangement of the CMA allows for placing an electron source,which is mounted in the center of the inner cylinder of the spectrometer. Simulation of the electron source with an Einzel Lens was also performed. In addtion, experiments with thin film coatings and Laser Beam Machining to supress Secondary Electron emission noise within the Auger electron spectrum were completed. Design geometry for the miniature CMA were modeled using Computer Aided Design, (CAD). Fixed Boundary Conditions, (BC), were applied and the geometry was then meshed for FEM. The electrostatic potential was then solved using the Poisson equation at each point. Having found the solution to the electrostatic potentials, electron flight simulations were performed and compared with the analytical solution. From several commercially available FEM modeling packages, COMSOL Multiphysics was chosen as the research platform for modeling of the spectrometer design. The CMA in this design was reduced in size by a factor of 4 to 5. This enabled mounting the CMA on a 2 ¾ in flange compared to the commercial PHI model 660 CMA which mounts onto a 10 in flange. Results from the Scanning Electron Microscopy measurements of the Secondary Electron emission characteristics of the LBM electron suppressor will also be presented.

In modern low pressure plasma discharges, the electron mean free path often exceeds the device dimensions. Under such conditions the electron velocity distribution function may significantly deviate from Maxwellian, which strongly affects the discharge properties. The description of such plasmas has to be kinetic and often requires the use of numerical methods. This thesis presents the study of kinetic effects in inductively coupled plasmas and Hall thrusters carried out by means of particle-in-cell simulations. The important result and the essential part of the research is the development of particle-in-cell codes. <p>An advective electromagnetic 1d3v particle-in-cell code is developed for modelling the inductively coupled plasmas. An electrostatic direct implicit 1d3v particle-in-cell code EDIPIC is developed for plane geometry simulations of Hall thruster plasmas. The EDIPIC code includes several physical effects important for Hall thrusters: collisions with neutral atoms, turbulence, and secondary electron emission. In addition, the narrow sheath regions crucial for plasma-wall interaction are resolved in simulations. The code is parallelized to achieve fast run times. <p>Inductively coupled plasmas sustained by the external RF electromagnetic field are widely used in material processing reactors and electrodeless lighting sources. In a low pressure inductive discharge, the collisionless electron motion strongly affects the absorption of the external electromagnetic waves and, via the ponderomotive force, the density profile. The linear theory of the anomalous skin effect based on the linear electron trajectories predicts a strong decrease of the ponderomotive force for warm plasmas. Particle-in-cell simulations show that the nonlinear modification of electron trajectories by the RF magnetic field partially compensates the effects of electron thermal motion. As a result, the ponderomotive force in warm collisionless plasmas is stronger than predicted by linear kinetic theory. <p>Hall thrusters, where plasma is maintained by the DC electric field crossed with the stationary magnetic field, are efficient low-thrust devices for spacecraft propulsion. The energy exchange between the plasma and the wall in Hall thrusters is enhanced by the secondary electron emission, which strongly affects electron temperature and, subsequently, thruster operation. Particle-in-cell simulations show that the effect of secondary electron emission on electron cooling in Hall thrusters is quite different from predictions of previous fluid studies. Collisionless electron motion results in a strongly anisotropic, nonmonotonic electron velocity distribution function, which is depleted in the loss cone, subsequently reducing the electron wall losses compared to Maxwellian plasmas. Secondary electrons form two beams propagating between the walls of a thruster channel in opposite radial directions. The secondary electron beams acquire additional energy in the crossed external electric and magnetic fields. The energy increment depends on both the field magnitudes and the electron flight time between the walls. <p>A new model of secondary electron emission in a bounded plasma slab, allowing for emission due to the counter-propagating secondary electron beams, is developed. It is shown that in bounded plasmas the average energy of plasma bulk electrons is far less important for the space charge saturation of the sheath than it is in purely Maxwellian plasmas. A new regime with relaxation oscillations of the sheath has been identified in simulations. Recent experimental studies of Hall thrusters indirectly support the simulation results with respect to the electron temperature saturation and the channel width effect on the thruster discharge.

In modern low pressure plasma discharges, the electron mean free path often exceeds the device dimensions. Under such conditions the electron velocity distribution function may significantly deviate from Maxwellian, which strongly affects the discharge properties. The description of such plasmas has to be kinetic and often requires the use of numerical methods. This thesis presents the study of kinetic effects in inductively coupled plasmas and Hall thrusters carried out by means of particle-in-cell simulations. The important result and the essential part of the research is the development of particle-in-cell codes. <p>An advective electromagnetic 1d3v particle-in-cell code is developed for modelling the inductively coupled plasmas. An electrostatic direct implicit 1d3v particle-in-cell code EDIPIC is developed for plane geometry simulations of Hall thruster plasmas. The EDIPIC code includes several physical effects important for Hall thrusters: collisions with neutral atoms, turbulence, and secondary electron emission. In addition, the narrow sheath regions crucial for plasma-wall interaction are resolved in simulations. The code is parallelized to achieve fast run times. <p>Inductively coupled plasmas sustained by the external RF electromagnetic field are widely used in material processing reactors and electrodeless lighting sources. In a low pressure inductive discharge, the collisionless electron motion strongly affects the absorption of the external electromagnetic waves and, via the ponderomotive force, the density profile. The linear theory of the anomalous skin effect based on the linear electron trajectories predicts a strong decrease of the ponderomotive force for warm plasmas. Particle-in-cell simulations show that the nonlinear modification of electron trajectories by the RF magnetic field partially compensates the effects of electron thermal motion. As a result, the ponderomotive force in warm collisionless plasmas is stronger than predicted by linear kinetic theory. <p>Hall thrusters, where plasma is maintained by the DC electric field crossed with the stationary magnetic field, are efficient low-thrust devices for spacecraft propulsion. The energy exchange between the plasma and the wall in Hall thrusters is enhanced by the secondary electron emission, which strongly affects electron temperature and, subsequently, thruster operation. Particle-in-cell simulations show that the effect of secondary electron emission on electron cooling in Hall thrusters is quite different from predictions of previous fluid studies. Collisionless electron motion results in a strongly anisotropic, nonmonotonic electron velocity distribution function, which is depleted in the loss cone, subsequently reducing the electron wall losses compared to Maxwellian plasmas. Secondary electrons form two beams propagating between the walls of a thruster channel in opposite radial directions. The secondary electron beams acquire additional energy in the crossed external electric and magnetic fields. The energy increment depends on both the field magnitudes and the electron flight time between the walls. <p>A new model of secondary electron emission in a bounded plasma slab, allowing for emission due to the counter-propagating secondary electron beams, is developed. It is shown that in bounded plasmas the average energy of plasma bulk electrons is far less important for the space charge saturation of the sheath than it is in purely Maxwellian plasmas. A new regime with relaxation oscillations of the sheath has been identified in simulations. Recent experimental studies of Hall thrusters indirectly support the simulation results with respect to the electron temperature saturation and the channel width effect on the thruster discharge.

No description available.

L’espace est un milieu hostile pour les équipements embarqués à bord des satellites. Les importants flux d’électrons qui les bombardent continuellement peuvent pénétrer à l’intérieur de leurs composants électroniques et engendrer des dysfonctionnements. Leur prise en compte nécessite des outils numériques 3D très performants, tels que des codes de transport d’électrons utilisant la méthode statistique de Monte-Carlo, valides jusqu’à quelques eV. Dans ce contexte, l’ONERA a développé, en partenariat avec le CNES, le code OSMOSEE pour l’aluminium. De son côté, le CEA a développé, pour le silicium, le module basse énergie MicroElec dans le code GEANT4. L’objectif de cette thèse, dans un effort commun entre l’ONERA, le CNES et le CEA, est d’étendre ces codes à différents matériaux. Pour ce faire, nous avons choisi d’utiliser le modèle des fonctions diélectriques, qui permet de modéliser le transport des électrons à basse énergie dans les métaux, les semi-conducteurs et les isolants. La validation des codes par des mesures du dispositif DEESSE de l’ONERA, pour l’aluminium, l’argent et le silicium, nous a permis d’obtenir une meilleure compréhension du transport des électrons à basse énergie, et par la suite, d’étudier l’effet de la rugosité de la surface. La rugosité, qui peut avoir un impact important sur le nombre d’électrons émis par les matériaux, n’est habituellement pas prise en compte dans les codes de transport, qui ne simulent que des matériaux idéalement plats. En ce sens, les résultats de ces travaux de thèse offrent des perspectives intéressantes pour les applications spatiales. / Space is a hostile environment for embedded electronic devices on board satellites. The high fluxes of energetic electrons that impact these satellites may continuously penetrate inside their electronic components and cause malfunctions. Taking into account the effects of these particles requires high-performant 3D numerical tools, such as codes dedicated to electrons transport using the Monte Carlo statistical method, valid down to a few eV. In this context, ONERA has developed, in collaboration with CNES, the code OSMOSEE for aluminum. For its part, CEA has developed for silicon the low-energy electron module MicroElec for the code GEANT4. The aim of this thesis, in a collaborative effort between ONERA, CNES and CEA, is to extend those two codes to different materials. To describe the interactions between electrons, we chose to use the dielectric function formalism that enables to overcome of the disparity of electronic band structures in solids, which play a preponderant role at low energy. From the validation of the codes, for aluminum, silver and silicon, by comparison with measurements from the experimental set-up DEESSE at ONERA, we obtained a better understanding of the transport of low energy electrons in solids. This result enables us to study the effect of the surface roughness. This parameter, which may have a significant impact on the electron emission yield, is not usually taken into account in Monte Carlo transport codes, which only simulate ideally flat materials. In this sense, the results of this thesis offer interesting perspectives for space applications.

La fusion nucléaire contrôlée par confinement magnétique avec les réacteurs de type Tokamaks et les applications spatiales ont en commun d’utiliser des composants Haute-Fréquence (HF) sous vide à forte puissance. Ces composants peuvent être sujets à l’effet multipactor qui augmente la densité électronique dans le vide au sein des systèmes, ce qui est susceptible d’induire une dégradation des performances des équipements et de détériorer les composants du système. Ces recherches consistent à améliorer la compréhension et la prédiction de ces phénomènes. Dans un premier temps nous avons réalisé une étude de sensibilité de l’effet multipactor au rendement d’émission électronique totale (noté TEEY). Cette étude a permis de montrer que l’effet multipactor est sensible à des variations d’énergies autour de la première énergie critique et dans la gamme d’énergies entre la première énergie critique et l’énergie du maximum. De plus, les composants HF utilisés dans les réacteurs Tokamak et dans le domaine du spatial peuvent être soumis à un champ magnétique continu. Nous avons donc développé un nouveau dispositif expérimental afin d’étudier ce phénomène. Le fonctionnement du dispositif et la méthode de mesure ont été analysées et optimisées à l’aide de modélisations numériques avec le logiciel PIC SPIS. Une fois que l’utilisation du dispositif a été optimisée et que le protocole de mesures a été validé, nous avons étudié l’influence d’un champ magnétique uniforme et continu sur le TEEY du cuivre. Nous avons démontré que le rendement d’émission électronique totale du cuivre est influencé par la présence d’un champ magnétique et par conséquent également l’effet multipactor. / Space communication payload as well as magnetic confinement fusion devices, among other applications, are affected by multipactor effect. This undesirable phenomenon can appear inside high frequency (HF) components under vacuum and lead to increase the electron density in the vacuum within the system. Multipactor effect can thus disturb the wave signal and trigger local temperature increases or breakdowns. This PhD research aims to improve our understanding and the prediction of the multipactor effect. The multipactor phenomenon is a resonant process which can appear above a certain RF power threshold. To determine this power threshold, experimental tests or/and simulations are commonly used. We have made a study to evaluate the multipactor power threshold sensitivity to the TEEY. Two particular critical parameters have been found: first cross-over energy and the energies between the first cross-over and the maximum energies. In some situations, the HF components are submitted to DC magnetic fields which might affect the electron emission properties and hence the multipactor power threshold. Current multipactor simulation codes don’t take into account the effect of the magnetic field on the TEEY. A new experimental setup specially designed to investigate this effect was developed during this work. Our new experimental setup and the associated TEEY measurement technique were analysed and optimized thanks to measurements and SPIS simulations. We used the setup to study the influence of magnetic field perpendicular to the sample surface on the TEEY of copper. We have demonstrated that the magnetic field affects the copper TEEY, and hence multipactor power threshold.

In this work, a new method for mass determination of single low-charged particles in the sub-picogram regime is developed. It opens applications to chemical physics and surface science via determination of growth rates. The method combines the well-known electrodynamic quadrupole ion trap in a UHV-chamber and fourier transformation of scattered light. The achieved mass resolution of down to $10^{-4}$ at 100 fg mass on a time scale of ten seconds allows a resolution of a few percent of the mass of an adsorbed monolayer and to determine growth rates down to one molecule per second on a time scale of one day. The observation of temperature dependent sticking coefficients results in the measures of the energy of an adsorption barrier. Observation of discrete steps in the rate gives information about the density of molecules in an ordered layer. Temperature dependent desorption data gives the binding energy. The dependence of these observables on the controllable curvature and charge of the substrate's surface is measurable. The first part of this dissertation consists of a description of the common theory of the quadrupole ion trap with the completion of not widely known, newly introduced, contributions to the trapping potential. These contributions lead to systematic shifts in the mass determination. In particular the influence of the inhomogenity of the electrical field, that is used for compensating the gravitational force, is investigated analytically and corroborated experimentally. It is assumed, that the particle's finite size effects in a further shift. In the experimental part initial demonstrative measurements are presented: the time-resolved adsorption of fullerene, anthracene and NO on silica spheres with 500nm diameter has been measured at room temperature. In addition the secondary electron yield of in-situ prepared particles during irradiation with monoenergetic electrons has been determined by analyzing the distribution of change of the number of elementary charges by single events of charging.