Nanoparticles in direct-current discharges: Growth and electrostatic coupling

K. Kishor Kumar (1) , Lénaïc Couëdel (1) , Cécile Arnas (1)

1 PIIM - Physique des interactions ioniques et moléculaires

The formation of nanoparticles from the sputtering of graphite and tungsten cathodes in direct-current discharges is investigated. The successive phases of growth present specificities according to the cathode material. The evolution of the discharge and plasma parameters during the growth phases accounts for the nanoparticle-plasma electrostatic coupling. This evolution also presents strong differences as a function of the cathode material. Features characterising each case are discussed.

Mots clés: dusty plasma; nanoparticle growth; DC discharge; carbon; tungsten

Domaines: Physique des plasmas [physics.plasm-ph]

K. Kishor Kumar, Lénaïc Couëdel, Cécile Arnas. Nanoparticles in direct-current discharges: Growth and electrostatic coupling. Journal of Plasma Physics, 2017, 80, pp.849 - 854. ⟨10.1017/S0022377814000439⟩. ⟨hal-01451152⟩