Electron drift caused by rf field gradient creates many plasma phenomena: An attempt to distinguish the cause and the effect

TLDR: In this article, a classification about the causality of the phenomena is attempted; the rf field gradient electron drift is proved to be the initial cause, and the electron-neutral collision frequency effect on the other plasma parameters and quantities.

Abstract: Abstract Many experimental data along with their theoretical interpretations on the rf low-temperature cylindrical plasma have been issued until today. Our Laboratory has contributed to that research by publishing results and interpretative mathematical models. With the present paper, two issues are being examined; firstly, the estimation of electron drift caused by the rf field gradient, which is the initial reason for the plasma behaviour, and secondly, many new experimental results, especially the electron-neutral collision frequency effect on the other plasma parameters and quantities. Up till now, only the plasma steady state was taken into consideration when a theoretical elaboration was carried out, regardless of the cause and the effect. This indicates the plasma's complicated and chaotic configuration and the need to simplify the problem. In the present work, a classification about the causality of the phenomena is attempted; the rf field gradient electron drift is proved to be the initial cause.