Jumps And Bi-stability Effects In Low Temperature Plasmas

In present paper the two kinds of bi-stability in low temperature plasmas are considered. The first kind is the bi-stability of the electron energy distribution function (EEDF) and related plasma parameters. Qualitative explanation of the possibility of the effect is given using Maxwellian EEDF approach. The review of physical conditions is done under which EEDF bi-stability was predicted using Boltzmann equation analysis and known experimental data interpreted in terms of bi-stability are described. The possible experiments are also discussed. The second kind is the bi-stability of the form of the positive column of glow discharge. The possibility of the existence of diffuse and constricted forms of positive column under the same discharge current is considered. It is found that under certain experimental conditions constricted and diffuse modes can simultaneously exist in the same discharge tube, i.e. steady state partially-constricted discharge can be realized. The problems of modeling of such kind of discharge are finally discussed