Photoelectron emission induced by low temperature hydrogen plasmas

Abstract

Experimental results of low temperature hydrogen plasma induced photoelectron emission measurements comparing two different plasma heating methods are summarized. By exposing the samples to the vacuum ultraviolet radiation of a filament-driven multi-cusp arc discharge ion source and a 2.45 GHz microwave-driven ion source, it has been measured that the total photoelectron emission from various metal surfaces is on the order of 1 A per kW of plasma heating power, which can be increased by a factor of 2–3.5 with a thin layer of alkali metal. The possible effects of the photoelectrons on the plasma sheath structure are studied with a 1D collisionless model extended to include the contribution of photoelectron emission from the surface.