CLUSTERS OF IONIZATION CLUMPS IN WEAKLY IONIZED ANNULAR RF DISCHARGES

The self-organized localized structures in a medium pressure annular r f glow discharge are investigated. Clusters with different number of i onization clumps are observed through inversed bifurcation processes a fter the onset of the periodic crystal-like structure. The interaction between clusters is long range repulsive, and short range attractive before reaching the center highly repulsive core. The scattering and t he formation of the stable and metastable larger clusters through the collision between two clusters are demonstrated.