Surface wave sustained plasmas in a metal bound plasma slab

Standing electron surface waves have been used to naturally sustain a plasma discharge. This work differs from previous studies of surface wave discharges in that, here, we focus on surface waves excited in a metal bound plasma slab which propagate along the plasma/sheath boundary and sustain a discharge. Our 'experimental' results are obtained from electromagnetic particle-in-cell simulations with Monte Carlo collisions of a 2d3v plasma. Results are analysed for discharges operating over a range of frequencies, neutral gas pressures and antenna design.