Investigation of helium ion production in constricted direct current plasma ion source with layered-glows.
Generation of helium ions is experimentally investigated with a constricted direct current (DC) plasma ion source operated at layered-glow mode, in which electrons could be accelerated through multiple potential structures so as to generate helium ions including He(2+) by successive ionization collisions in front of an extraction aperture. The helium discharge is sustained with the formation of a couple of stable layers and the plasma ball with high density is created near the extraction aperture at the operational pressure down to 0.6 Torr with concave cathodes. The ion beam current extracted with an extraction voltage of 5 kV is observed to be proportional to the discharge current and inversely proportional to the operating pressure, showing high current density of 130 mA/cm(2) and power density of 0.52 mA/cm(2)/W. He(2+) ions, which were predicted to be able to exist due to multiple-layer potential structure, are not observed. Simple calculation on production of He(2+) ions inside the plasma ball reveals that reduced operating pressure and increased cathode area will help to generate He(2+) ions with the layered-glow DC discharge.
Some characteristics of the hollow anode glow
A new type of discharge realized in a diode consisting of a cathode and a special type of hollow anode is presented. The distinctive arrangement of dark and luminous regions between the cathode and anode with a characteristic hollow anode glow has been observed in the discharge. The optical spectrum strongly depends on the discharge current, and can be practically a spark or arc spectrum without any lines of anode or cathode material.
Enhancement of surface properties on Low Density Polyethylene packaging films using various fluorination routes
Nowadays, packaging market deployment requires an important attention. Influence of treatment with molecular (F2) or atomic (Fradical dot) fluorine on properties of Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) films was investigated. The films were treated using direct fluorination conditions with F2 or a specific reagent XeF2, which releases atomic fluorine Fradical dot. Changes of LDPE chemical composition were investigated by FTIR and solid state NMR. Surface morphology was studied by several microscopy techniques (SEM and AFM). Finally to further characterize film properties after treatments, surface energy measurements and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) analyses were also carried out. An upper fluorinated layer, which contains mainly high amount of single bondCF2single bond, was formed during the direct fluorination conditions (F2). For the process performed with XeF2, specific groups single bondCHFsingle bond were detected not only on the polymer surface but also in the bulk. The final CHF/CF2 ratio depended on the fluorination route. Treatment with Fradical dot (originated from XeF2 decomposition) resulted in single bondCHFsingle bond groups in bulk prevailing formation whereas F2 formed mainly single bondCF2single bond groups. Regardless to the reactive species, radicals (dangling bonds) appeared during the fluorination and reacted with oxygen during the exposition to air after the treatment. Such a process resulted in oxygenated polar groups formation and consequently in the surface energy increase.