Modeling of Microplasmas with Nano-Engineered Electrodes

摘要

A new principle of microplasma generation utilizes field emission of electrons at the cathode and field ionization producing ions at the anode, both processes requiring carefully designed nanorods or nanotubes. In this plasma generation technique, collisional ionization of atoms and molecules by electron impact would play negligible role. PIC/MCC modeling confirms that the new principle can enable substantial plasma densities at pd≤0.0001 cm×Torr, while requiring low voltages, below 100 V. The microplasmas produced with the new technique would form dielectrics with permittivity adjustable from 1 down to negative values; such dielectrics would enable reconfigurable radio-frequency systems. The new microplasma devices could also be used as fast (with ignition time limited by the external circuit rather than by the plasma itself) switches. Additionally, the new ion generation technique would enable highly efficient and compact ion microthrusters for small satellites such as CubeSats. Analysis shows that the novel ion thruster would take up less than 1 cubic centimeter of volume, would operate at low (less than 100 V) voltage and power below 1 W, thus requiring only a miniature power supply, and would provide 10s of micronewtons of thrust at Isp≥1000 s.