Multiscale Physics Phenomena and Near-Wall/Electrode Effects in Non-thermal Plasmas

Dear Colleagues,

Cold, non-equilibrium plasma discharges are at the core of applications such as material processing, plasma propulsion, plasma medicine, and catalysis for gas conversion. An important and fundamental aspect is the interplay of various processes occurring at different length scales and electrode boundaries in plasma systems. One of the simplest examples is the transport of electrons in a capacitively coupled discharge, where electrons are transported over large-scale bulk plasma by ambipolar diffusion, but have a very different motion character in the thin plasma sheath region close to electrodes and reactor walls. Another example, which has received a lot of attention recently, is the energy transport from small- to large-length scales resulting in the formation of spoke structures in magnetized ExB plasmas. Similar multiscale interactions can be found in practically every kind of plasma discharge and are often an essential part of the discharge physics. Understanding them can prove important for discharge optimizations. On the practical side, the discovery of the underlying scaling laws is a very useful and exciting challenge, both for the industrial upscaling of plasma film deposition and for miniaturization down to atmospheric micro-plasma jets for surface treatments. The modeling and simulation of basic plasma processes fed by DC, AC, or pulsed power supplies are expected to trigger a deeper understanding of the connection between plasma parameters and experimental outcome, thereby improving both repeatability and predictability in regard to plasma properties.

The present Special Issue welcomes original research and review papers within the field of plasma science and technology focused on processes linking different length scales. Experimental, theoretical, and modeling approaches should provide innovative results at the cutting edge of multiscale plasma physics and applications. An adequate combination of plasma diagnostics with data-driven models will likely become a game changer.

Dr. Carles Corbella Roca
Dr. Denis Eremin
Guest Editors

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