A study of electron energy distributions in an inductively coupled plasma by laser Thomson scattering

The electron energy distribution function (eedf) in an inductively coupled plasma was studied using the method of laser Thomson scattering. eedfs were measured for various plasma conditions, at different gas pressures, and at different input rf powers. In high electron density plasmas, the eedf was observed to be Maxwellian, while in low electron density plasmas, a non-Maxwellian eedf was observed. The transition between Maxwellian and non-Maxwellian eedfs was attributed to the thermalization of the electron population in higher density plasmas. In order to completely characterize the eedf, spatial and temporal dependencies were measured and measurements were also made in the afterglow period of a pulsed discharge. Discussions are made of the electron behavior and the shape of the eedf. (C) 1998 American Institute of Physics.