Spoke formation in low temperature ExB plasmas. Transition from gradient-drift instability to ionization wave

Abstract: Long wavelength plasma non-uniformities rotating in the azimuthal direction ("rotating spokes") have been observed in a number of experiments on Hall thrusters or magnetron discharges. We use a two-dimensional (2D), axial-azimuthal Particle-In-Cell Monte Carlo Collisions (PIC-MCC) model to study the formation of instabilities in a direct current (dc) magnetron discharge under conditions close to recent experiments. In spite of the simplified 2D geometry of the model, the simulations can reproduce the main features of the experimental results. At a given position above the cathode, corresponding to the spoke location, the simulations show large amplitude oscillations of the plasma density and a very sharp increase of the plasma potential and electron temperature at the leading edge of the spoke, as in time resolved probe measurements. Moreover, the simulations show that the instability evolves in time from a gradient-drift type of instability in the linear phase, to an ionization wave in the non-linear phase, with rotation in the +ExB direction in the first phase and in the -ExB direction in the second phase. The number of spokes is found to increase with pressure, as in experiments. The mechanisms of electron heating and the role of the Bx$\nabla$B drift in electron heating and in the coherence and direction of spoke rotation are discussed.