Numerical Simulation on the Production Mechanism of Surface-Wave Plasmas Sustained along a Metal Rod

For interpreting the production mechanism of surface-wave plasmas sustained along a metal rod, electromagnetic simulation on the electromagnetic field distributions and particle-in-cell/Monte Carlo collision (PIC/MCC) simulation of the ionization process are present. The results show that the enhanced electric field of surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) can be excited in the ion sheath layer between the negative-voltage metal rod and the surface-wave plasmas, which is responsible for maintaining the plasma discharge. Moreover, the spatio-temporal evolutions of plasma density and electric fields are simulated by the PIC/MCC model. It is further suggested that the expanded ion sheath layer can extend the length of plasma domain by increasing the plasma absorbed energy from SPPs.