Many-particle charged-particle plasma simulations using spatial meshes for the electromagnetic field solutions, particle-in-cell (PIC) merged with Monte Carlo collision (MCC) calculations, are coming into wide use for application to partially ionized gases. The author emphasizes the development of PIC computer experiments since the 1950s starting with one-dimensional (1-D) charged-sheet models, the addition of the mesh, and fast direct Poisson equation solvers for 2-D and 3-D. Details are provided for adding the collisions between the charged particles and neutral atoms. The result is many-particle simulations with many of the features met in low-temperature collision plasmas; for example, with applications to plasma-assisted materials processing, but also related to warmer plasmas at the edges of magnetized fusion plasmas. >

Particle-in-Cell Charged Particle Simulations, plus Monte Carlo Collisions with Neutral Atoms, PIC-MCC

1 The Equations of Gas Dynamics 2 Magnetoplasma Dynamics 3 Waves in Magnetoplasmas 4 Magnetoplasma Stability 5 Transport in Magnetoplasmas 6 Extensions of Theory Bibliography Index

Physics of plasmas

Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics published the first Plasma Roadmap in 2012 consisting of the individual perspectives of 16 leading experts in the various sub-fields of low temperature plasma science and technology. The 2017 Plasma Roadmap is the first update of a planned series of periodic updates of the Plasma Roadmap. The continuously growing interdisciplinary nature of the low temperature plasma field and its equally broad range of applications are making it increasingly difficult to identify major challenges that encompass all of the many sub-fields and applications. This intellectual diversity is ultimately a strength of the field. The current state of the art for the 19 sub-fields addressed in this roadmap demonstrates the enviable track record of the low temperature plasma field in the development of plasmas as an enabling technology for a vast range of technologies that underpin our modern society. At the same time, the many important scientific and technological challenges shared in this roadmap show that the path forward is not only scientifically rich but has the potential to make wide and far reaching contributions to many societal challenges.

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The 2017 Plasma Roadmap: Low temperature plasma science and technology

CO2 conversion into value-added chemicals and fuels is considered as one of the great challenges of the 21st century. Due to the limitations of the traditional thermal approaches, several novel technologies are being developed. One promising approach in this field, which has received little attention to date, is plasma technology. Its advantages include mild operating conditions, easy upscaling, and gas activation by energetic electrons instead of heat. This allows thermodynamically difficult reactions, such as CO2 splitting and the dry reformation of methane, to occur with reasonable energy cost. In this review, after exploring the traditional thermal approaches, we have provided a brief overview of the fierce competition between various novel approaches in a quest to find the most effective and efficient CO2 conversion technology. This is needed to critically assess whether plasma technology can be successful in an already crowded arena. The following questions need to be answered in this regard: are there key advantages to using plasma technology over other novel approaches, and if so, what is the flip side to the use of this technology? Can plasma technology be successful on its own, or can synergies be achieved by combining it with other technologies? To answer these specific questions and to evaluate the potentials and limitations of plasma technology in general, this review presents the current state-of-the-art and a critical assessment of plasma-based CO2 conversion, as well as the future challenges for its practical implementation.

/pdf/plasma-technology-a-novel-solution-for-co2-conversion-bxzhxztf2d.pdf

Plasma technology - a novel solution for CO2 conversion?

Atomic Spectra Database

Cross section data for electron-impact inelastic processes of vibrationally excited molecules of hydrogen and its isotopes

The interaction energy in systems (atom–atom, atom–ion and atom–molecule) involving open-shell species, predicted by a phenomenological method, is used for collision integral calculations. The results are compared with those obtained by different authors by using the complete set of quantum mechanical interaction potentials arizing from the electronic configurations of separate partners. A satisfactory agreement is achieved, implying that the effect of deep potential wells, present in some of the chemical potentials, is cancelled by the effect of strong repulsive potentials.

On the possibility of using model potentials for collision integral calculations of interest for planetary atmospheres

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Fundamental Aspects of Plasma Chemical Physics

State-to-state approaches are used to shed light on (a) thermodynamic and transport properties of LTE plasmas, (b) atomic and molecular plasmas for aerospace applications and (c) RF sustained parallel plate reactors. The efforts made by the group of Bari in the kinetics and dynamics of electrons and molecular species are discussed from the point of view of either the master equation approach or the molecular dynamics of elementary processes. Recent experimental results are finally rationalized with a state-to-state kinetics based on the coupling of vibrational kinetics with the Boltzmann equation for the electron energy distribution function.

https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/0963-0252/16/1/S03/pdf

Non-equilibrium plasma kinetics: a state-to-state approach

Different mechanisms of CO2 dissociation, in discharge and post-discharge conditions, have been computed by performing a parametric numerical solution of the electron Boltzmann equation as a function of the electric field, the ionization degree and the vibrational temperatures and by considering elastic, inelastic, superelastic and electron electron collisions. Emphasis is given to the role of superelastic electronic and vibrational collisions in affecting the electron energy distribution function and relevant rates. The results show that, at low E/N values, the dissociation rates from pure vibrational mechanism can overcome the corresponding rates of electron impact dissociation. In any case, the electron impact dissociation rates are largely dependent on the transitions from excited vibrational levels.

http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/0963-0252/24/4/042002/pdf

Annarita Laricchiuta

Papers

Cross section data for electron-impact inelastic processes of vibrationally excited molecules of hydrogen and its isotopes

On the possibility of using model potentials for collision integral calculations of interest for planetary atmospheres

Fundamental Aspects of Plasma Chemical Physics

Non-equilibrium plasma kinetics: a state-to-state approach

Vibrational excitation and dissociation mechanisms of CO2 under non-equilibrium discharge and post-discharge conditions