Microdischarges of xenon sustained by microwaves: Determination of scaling laws

The threshold conditions to maintain millimeter and submillimeter-size discharges of xenon with microwaves are experimentally determined. The threshold electric field required to sustain the plasma is reported as a function of gas pressure. The influence of the size of the dielectric cell in which the discharge is produced is also shown. The scaling laws are deduced from the threshold electric field measurements, assuming a few additional simplifying assumptions. The results are compared with data obtained with argon discharges sustained by surface waves in capillary tubes and the hypotheses assumed for the calculations are discussed