Modeling Dusty Plasma Discharges of Noble Gases Using a Self-Consistent Fluid Model

Complex plasmas, which consist of electrons, ions and charged micro-particles, are an interesting and largely unexplored state of matter. One of the most intriguing phenomena in complex plasmas is the formation of dust-free voids in micro-gravity experiments. In order to achieve an isotropic dusty plasma system, this void must be closed. Using a self-consistent fluid model to simulate plasma behavior, the present study aims to investigate radio frequency (RF) discharges of helium, neon, and xenon gases, in addition to the already well understood argon discharge, at varying powers and pressures. The scope of this study is two-fold, in that dust-free discharges and dusty discharges will be modeled. The expansion of the fluid model to include other noble gases represents an important development in numerical modeling of complex plasmas.