Experimental investigation of an electronegative cylindrical capacitively coupled geometrically asymmetric plasma discharge with an axisymmetric magnetic field

Abstract: In this study, we have investigated the production of negative ions by mixing electronegative oxygen gas with electropositive argon gas in a geometrically asymmetric cylindrical capacitively coupled radio frequency plasma discharge. The plasma parameters such as density (electron, positive and negative ion), negative ion fraction, and electron temperature are investigated for fixed gas pressure and increasing axial magnetic field strength. The axisymmetric magnetic field creates an ExB drift in the azimuthal direction, leading to the confinement of high-energy electrons at the radial edge of the chamber, resulting in decreased species density and negative ion fraction in the plasma bulk. However, the electron temperature increases with the magnetic field. It is concluded that low magnetic fields are better suited for negative ion production in such devices. Furthermore, in addition to the percentage ratio of the two gases, the applied axial magnetic field also plays a vital role in controlling negative ion fraction.