Self-similar sharpening structures and traveling resonance fronts in nonlocal HF ionization processes

The spatiotemporal evolution of a high-frequency discharge under strong pla sma-resonance conditions is studied theoretically and by computer simulatio n. We analyze two main dynamic regimes arising at different stages of the p rocess: (i) the "pre-resonance" sharpening regime, described approximately by a self-similar solution with a singularity, and (ii) the regime of high- velocity ionization wave with high peaks of the field, electron temperature , and plasma density at the leading wave-front. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B .V. All rights reserved.