D. Hemmers et al., SELF-CONSISTENT MODELING OF OVERDENSE PLASMAS IN ECR DISCHARGES, Journal of physics. D, Applied physics, 31(17), 1998, pp. 2155-2164
A two-dimensional self-consistent model of a large-volume ECR discharg
e is presented. The set-up of the plasma source is introduced briefly.
The model treats electrons as a fluid assuming a Maxwellian velocity
distribution and determines electron density and temperature from a pa
rticle and energy balance. Wave propagation in the plasma is calculate
d from a wave equation derived from Maxwell's equations in matter. The
self-consistent coupling of the equations is achieved by determining
the material properties of the plasma from the dispersion relation of
right-hand circularly polarized waves propagating parallel to the exte
rnal magnetic field. We do not adopt the cold plasma approximation so
that thermal effects like Doppler broadening of the resonance zone and
collisionless electron cyclotron heating of the plasma are included.
The neutral temperature is estimated from a global balance of energy.
Results of the simulation for different operating conditions are discu
ssed and compared with theoretical predictions and experimental data o
f other authors.