Entry requirements

Basic physics, including particle mechanics and quantum physics.

Learning outcomes

On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• describe the differences between the plasma and solid, liquid and gaseous states
• give examples of where plasmas are applied
• describe how plasmas for different purposes can be generated
• solve simple plasma physics problems
• describe typical plasma parameters for typical applications
• describe plasma physics mechanisms in etching, coating, surface cleaning and light generation

Content

Definition of plasma state: Debye length, plasma frequency and thermal equilibrium.

Partially ionised plasma: Characterisation of binary collisions, collision processes (ionisation, excitation, recombination, charge exchange, electron capture) in plasma, collisions with molecules (dissociation, vibrational and rotational excitations), resonant emission and absorption of electromagnetic waves, particle and energy balance in a plasma discharge.

DC and RF (radiofrequency) discharges: Electron mobility, breakdown condition, RF discharge principles and damping mechanisms, positive electric potential of the plasma column.

Particle motion in magnetic fields: Motion in a constant magnetic field, parallel velocity and the slow drift motion in more general fields, particle energy and the magnetic moment as invariants of the motion, toroidal and magnetic mirror confinement.

Brief overview of thermonuclear fusion: Fusion reactions, Lawson criterion, approaches to controlled fusion.

Applications of plasmas: Characterisation of plasma surface interactions, plasma etching and some devices for it, coating and surface cleaning, choice of working gas and thermal regimes for etching and surface cleaning (oxide removal etc.), light generation and plasma light sources, sterilisation of medical instruments and food.

Instruction

Lectures, lessons and field trip to research institute.

Assessment

Written or oral examination at the the of the course. A written report may be part of the examination. Participation in the field trip is compulsory.

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the disability coordinator of the university.