Frequency variation under constant power conditions in hydrogen radio frequency discharges

The effect of driving frequency (13.56-50 MHz) on the electrical characteristics and the optical properties of hydrogen discharges has been studied, under constant power conditions. The determination of the discharge power and impedance was based on current and voltage wave form measurements, while at the same time spatially resolved H-alpha emission profiles were recorded. As frequency is increased, the rf voltage required for maintaining a constant power level is reduced, while the discharge current increases and the impedance decreases. Concurrently the overall H-alpha emission intensity decreases and its spatial distribution becomes more uniform. Further analysis of these measurements through a theoretical model reveals that frequency influences the motion of charged species as well as the electron energy and the electric field, resulting in a modification of their spatial distribution. Moreover, the loss rate of charged species is reduced, leading to an increase of the plasma density and to a decrease of the electric field. Under these conditions, the total power spend for electron acceleration increases with frequency, but combined to the higher electron density, leads to a drop of the average energy gained per electron, a drop of the mean electron energy, and an enhancement of the low-energy electron-molecule collision processes against high energy ones. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.