Title :
Solving the Boltzmann equation in a 2-D-configuration and 2-D-velocity space for capacitively coupled RF discharges
Author :
Wu, Chwan-Hwa John ; Li, Chihwen Chris ; Tsai, Jyun-Hwei ; Young, Fongray Frank
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Electr. Eng., Auburn Univ., AL, USA
fDate :
8/1/1995 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
A new kinetic scheme, the generalized Monte Carlo flux (GMCF) method, provides the electron particle distribution function in phase space, f(ν, μ, r, z, t) (ν: speed, μ: velocity angle, r: radial position, z: axial position, and t: time), for solving the Boltzmann equation in modeling capacitively coupled RP discharges. For a simulation with spatial- and temporal-varying fields in RF discharges, the GMCF method handles the collision terms of the Boltzmann equation by using one transition matrix to compute the collision transition between velocity space cells. An anti-diffusion flux transport scheme is developed to overcome the numerical diffusion in the velocity and configuration spaces. The major advantages of the GMCF method are the increase in resolution in the tail of distribution functions and the decrease of computation time. The GMCF calculation results in terms of microscopic electron distribution function and macroscopic quantities of density, electric field and ionization rate, are presented for RF discharges and compared with other kinetic and fluid simulation and experimental results. The effects of the induced radial electric field in the sheath close to the radial wall in a cylindrically symmetric parallel-plate geometry are discussed
Keywords :
Boltzmann equation; Monte Carlo methods; high-frequency discharges; plasma collision processes; plasma density; plasma kinetic theory; plasma sheaths; plasma simulation; plasma transport processes; 2D-configuration; 2D-velocity space; Boltzmann equation; anti-diffusion flux transport scheme; capacitively coupled RF discharge; collision terms; collision transition; density; electric field; electron particle distribution function; generalized Monte Carlo flux method; induced radial electric field; ionization rate; kinetic scheme; microscopic electron distribution function; numerical diffusion; phase space; sheath; spatial-varying fields; temporal-varying fields; transition matrix; velocity space cells; Boltzmann equation; Computational modeling; Couplings; Distributed computing; Distribution functions; Electrons; Kinetic theory; Monte Carlo methods; Probability distribution; Radio frequency;
Journal_Title :
Plasma Science, IEEE Transactions on