In this paper, we describe the principles of operation of a plasma display panel (PDP) and the physical mechanisms controlling the performances of a PDP in terms of light emission efficiency, lifetime and image quality Emphasis is put on the physics of the plasma occurring in a PDP cell, on the discharge optimization, and on the analysis of recent results provided by experimental and numerical diagnostic tools We focus on alternative current PDPs, where the plasma is generated by a dielectric barrier discharge, the configuration adopted by most PDP companies The recent improvements and the remaining research issues are discussed

http://plasmapanel.grid.umich.edu/articles/0022-3727_36_6_201.pdf

Plasma display panels: physics, recent developments and key issues

Fluid, particle-in-cell and hybrid models are the numerical simulation techniques commonly used for simulating low-temperature plasma discharges. Despite the complexity of plasma systems and the challenges in describing and modelling them, well-organized simulation methods can provide physical information often difficult to obtain from experiments. Simulation results can also be used to identify research guidelines, find optimum operating conditions or propose novel designs for performance improvements. In this paper, we present an overview of the principles, strengths and limitations of the three simulation models, including a brief history and the recent status of their development. The three modelling techniques are benchmarked by comparing simulation results in different plasma systems (plasma display panels, capacitively coupled plasmas and inductively coupled plasmas) with experimentally measured data. In addition, different aspects of the electron and ion kinetics in these systems are discussed based upon simulation results.

https://www3.nd.edu/~sst/teaching/AME60637/reading/2005_JPDAP_Kim_Iza_Yang_particle_fluid_modeling.pdf

Particle and fluid simulations of low-temperature plasma discharges: benchmarks and kinetic effects

In order to provide a guideline in the search for the optimum cathode materials for plasma display panels (PDPs), formulas for the simple calculation of the secondary electron yield /spl gamma/ were derived from Hagstrum's theory for an insulator without impurity levels. From these, we obtained the generalized relations between /spl gamma/ and the band parameters of an insulator and the potential energy of an incident particle, which is an ion or a metastable atom. Unlike metals, it is not work function but the sum of band gap and electron affinity that essentially contributes to /spl gamma/ of an insulator, By applying these formulas, the /spl gamma/ values of BaO and MgO for He, Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe ions and metastable atoms were practically calculated. In particular, the metastable atom-induced /spl gamma/ values of these insulators were calculated for the first time. The /spl gamma/ values of these insulators for these noble gas ions are determined by Auger neutralization only. As for MgO, which is at present the most useful insulator cathode for PDPs, the /spl gamma/ values for Kr and Xe ions become zero. These calculated /spl gamma/ values of MgO for all noble gas ions were compared with experimental results reported previously.

https://www3.nd.edu/~sst/teaching/AME60637/reading/2001_IEEE_ED_Motoyama_dielectric_secondary_emission.pdf

A study of the secondary electron yield /spl gamma/ of insulator cathodes for plasma display panels

Low energy ion-induced secondary electron emission from the surface of thin (500–5000 A) polycrystalline MgO films has been investigated with various noble gas ions at energies ranging from 45 to 300 eV. The dependence of secondary electron emission coefficient γi on the type and energy of ions is reported and interpreted in terms of electron ejection mechanisms. As-deposited MgO films showed an initial fluctuation in the secondary emission current, which upon annealing or after a certain ion bombardment time irreversibly disappeared.

Electron ejection from MgO thin films by low energy noble gas ions: Energy dependence and initial instability of the secondary electron emission coefficient

In this paper, some modelling approaches to describe direct current (dc) magnetron discharges developed in our research groups will be presented, including an analytical model, Monte Carlo simulations for the electrons and for the sputtered atoms, a hybrid Monte Carlo-fluid model and particle-in-cell-Monte Carlo collision simulations. The strengths and limitations of the various modelling approaches will be explained, and some characteristic simulation results will be illustrated. Furthermore, some other simulation methods related to the magnetron device will be briefly explained, more specifically for calculating the magnetic field distribution inside the discharge, and for describing the (reactive) sputtering.

https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/0022-3727/42/19/194018/pdf

Computer modelling of magnetron discharges

In an alternating-current plasma display panel cell, elastic collisions between the neutral gas and ions keep most ion energies much lower than the applied voltage. Two-dimensional kinetic simulation reveals that the majority (90%) of the plasma ions impinging on the dielectric layer have energy at or below 10% of the applied voltage of 250 V calling for the need for measurement of the secondary electron emission-coefficient below 50 eV. The kinetic potential and density profiles compare well with those of a two-dimensional fluid simulation.

Ion Energy Distribution in Alternating-Current Plasma Display Panel Cell

The striation mechanism of dielectric microdischarges, as in many plasma devices, is extensively explored by collisional kinetic and fluid simulations. Striation in a typical dielectric microdischarge device predominantly occurs near the anode region and is basically governed by the ionization-dominated α-processes, wherein surface and space charges collectively dictate the phenomenon in a complex manner. A novel type of striation has been investigated by us near the cathode region, which is dominated by γ-processes and is driven by the secondary-electron emission mechanism.

Striation Mechanism and Triggered Striation in Dielectric Microdischarge Plasma.

Striation Mechanism and Triggered Striation in Dielectric Microdischarge Plasma : Nuclear Science, Plasmas, and Electric Discharges

A kinetic code is used to simulate kinetic plasma properties in a planar magnetron system in a realistic magnetic field in two and three dimensions. We simulate the magnetron system in order to obtain various plasma characteristics and erosion profiles of a target material with these magnetic fields. Scaling formulas are used to estimate the steady-state properties of plasma particles and to reduce computation time. Variations in the geometry and the magnetic field optimize these erosion profiles and plasma characteristics. For the plasma characteristics, we also calculate the plasma temperature and the distribution function. We found that electrons are nearly Maxwellian, while ions are not, and that the electron temperature in the bulk coincides well with the experimentally measured value.

Chae Hwa Shon

Papers

Ion Energy Distribution in Alternating-Current Plasma Display Panel Cell

Striation Mechanism and Triggered Striation in Dielectric Microdischarge Plasma.

Striation Mechanism and Triggered Striation in Dielectric Microdischarge Plasma : Nuclear Science, Plasmas, and Electric Discharges

Kinetic and steady-state properties of magnetron sputter with three-dimensional magnetic field