Describing non-equilibrium "cold" plasmas through a chemical physics approach, this book uses the state-to-state plasma kinetics, which considers each internal state as a new species with its own cross sections. Extended atomic and molecular master equations are coupled with Boltzmann and Monte Carlo methods to solve the electron energy distribution function. Selected examples in different applied fields, such as microelectronics, fusion, and aerospace, are presented and discussed including the self-consistent kinetics in RF parallel plate reactors, the optimization of negative ion sources and the expansion of high enthalpy flows through nozzles of different geometries.

The book will cover the main aspects of the state-to-state kinetic approach for the description of nonequilibrium cold plasmas, illustrating the more recent achievements in the development of kinetic models including the self-consistent coupling of master equations and Boltzmann equation for electron dynamics. To give a complete portrayal, the book will assess fundamental concepts and theoretical formulations, based on a unified methodological approach, and explore the insight in related scientific problems still opened for the research community.

Invited Papers.- Theory of Electron Collisions in Partially Ionized Gases.- Electron Collisions with Molecules.- Electron Transport in Partially Ionized Gases.- Non Equilibrium Plasma Kinetics.- Modeling High Pressure Electric Discharges: Applications to Excimer Lasers.- Energy Transfer in Atom/Molecule Collisions with Molecules and Surfaces.- Reactivity Calculations for Elementary Atom-Diatom Processes and Applications to Non-Equilibrium Systems.- Excimer Lasers: Status and Perspectives.- Fundamental Properties of RF Glow Discharges: An Approach Based on Self-Consistent Numerical Models.- Theory of High-Frequency Discharges.- Volume Production of Hydrogen Negative Ions.- Laser Diagnostics of a Hydrogen Discharge.- Hydrogen-Surface Interactions.- Plasma Assisted Thin Film Production WC, a-C: H and Diamond Films.- Electric Discharge Lamps.- Contributed Papers.- Inelastic Scattering of Electrons From H2 Molecule and First-Born Approximation: Role Of Correlation.- Electron-Molecule Collision Cross Sections for Etching Gases.- Electron Collisions in Gas Switches.- Theory of e- -Diatom Scattering at Low Energies.- A Parameter-Free Theoretical Model for Low-Energy Electron Scattering from Polyatomic Molecules.- Electron Collision Cross-Sections Determined from Beam and Swarm Data by Boltzmann Analysis.- Electron Collision Cross Sections Involving Excited States.- Electron Collision Cross Sections Involving Excited States.- New Theoretical Approaches for Studying Electron Collisions with Small Molecules.- Ion-Neutral Reactions.- Energy Pooling Collisions: A Step Towards Ionization.- Potential Energy Curves of Open Shell Systems (Excimers) from Molecular Beam Scattering.- Molecular Beam Measurements of Ionization Cross Sections Relevant to Thermal Plasmas and Excimer Laser Systems.- The Silent Discharge and Its Application to Ozone and Excimer Formation.- Non Equilibrium Excimer Laser Kinetics.- Study of A Photoswitched Discharge for Excimer Laser.- A Self-Consistent Monte Carlo Modeling of RF Non-Equilibrium Plasma.- Charged Particles Dynamics in Electropositive Glow Discharges Probed by Optical Diagnostics.- Problems in the Experimental Determination of Electron Energy Distribution Function in RF Discharges.- Spectroscopic Diagnostics in the Cathode Fall and Negative Glow of a Nitrogen Glow Discharge.- Electron Kinetics in RF Discharges.- A Radiofrequency Trap for Tests on Production and Excitation of Ions.- Gas-Phase and Gas-Surface Interactions of Vibrationally Excited Hydrogen Molecules.- Translational Energy Distribution Functions of H+ and H in H2 Volume Discharges.- Numerical Simulation on Tandem Negative Ion Source.- Atomic and Molecular Surface and Volume Processes in the Analysis of Negative Hydrogen Discharges.- Interpretation and Analysis of the H2 Vibrational Distribution in a Hydrogen Discharge.- Electron Energy Distribution Functions in Magnetic Multipole Plasmas.- Effects Due to Negative Ions and Particles in Plasmas.- Electron and Vibrational Kinetics in Molecular Discharges.- Laser Diagnostic of Radio-Frequency Oxygen Plasma.- Spectroscopy and Kinetics of an Oxygen Glow Discharge.- Simulation Work in Noble Gas Radiation Detectors.- A Description of The Non-Equilibrium Behavior of Electrons in Matter: Macro-Kinetics.- Thermalization and Transport of Sputtered Particles in Glow Discharges.- The Free Electron Laser: A Simple Quantum Picture.- Electron and Photon Collisions in Strong Laser Fields.- Resonant Photopumping of Lithiumlike Ions in Laser-Produced Plasmas.- Ionization and Deionization of Electron Beam Disturbed Air.- Re-Entry Problems.- Diagnostics of Atomic Species Near the Electrodes of a Fluorescent Lamp.- Excited State Diagnostics in High Pressure Arc Lamps.- Participants

"Fundamental Aspects of Plasma Chemical Physics - Thermodynamics" develops basic and advanced concepts of plasma thermodynamics from both classical and statistical points of view.

After a refreshment of classical thermodynamics applied to the dissociation and ionization regimes, the book invites the reader to discover the role of electronic excitation in affecting the properties of plasmas, a topic often overlooked by the thermal plasma community.

Particular attention is devoted to the problem of the divergence of the partition function of atomic species and the state-to-state approach for calculating the partition function of diatomic and polyatomic molecules. The limit of ideal gas approximation is also discussed, by introducing Debye-Huckel and virial corrections.

Throughout the book, worked examples are given in order to clarify concepts and mathematical approaches.

This book is a first of a series of three books to be published by the authors on fundamental aspects of plasma chemical physics. The next books will discuss transport and kinetics.

"

"Fundamental Aspects of Plasma Chemical Physics: Transport "develops basic and advanced concepts of plasma transport to the modern treatment of the Chapman-Enskog method for the solution of the Boltzmann transport equation.

The book invites the reader to consider actual problems of the transport of thermal plasmas with particular attention to the derivation of diffusion- and viscosity-type transport cross sections, stressing the role of resonant charge-exchange processes in affecting the diffusion-type collision calculation of viscosity-type collision integrals.

A wide range of topics is then discussed including (1) the effect of non-equilibrium vibrational distributions on the transport of vibrational energy, (2) the role of electronically excited states in the transport properties of thermal plasmas, (3) the dependence of transport properties on the multitude of Saha equations for multi-temperature plasmas, and (4) the effect of the magnetic field on transport properties.

Throughout the book, worked examples are provided to clarify concepts and mathematical approaches.

This book is the second of a series of three published by the Bari group on fundamental aspects of plasma chemical physics. The first book, "Fundamental Aspects of Plasma Chemical Physics: Thermodynamics," is dedicated to plasma thermodynamics; and the third, "Fundamental Aspects of Plasma Chemical Physics: Kinetics," deals with plasma kinetics.

Plasmas in Nature, Laboratory, and Technology (A. Ignatov, A.A. Rukhadze). Laser Diagnostics of Plasmas (L. Pyatnitsky). Probe Diagnostics of Plasmas (G. Dilecce). Theory, Properties, and Applications of Nonequilibrium Plasmas Created by External Energy Sources (E.E. Son). Nonequilibrium Plasma Modeling (M. Capitelli et al.). Gas Discharge Lamps (M. Koedam). Plasma Etching Processes and Diagnostics (R. d'Agostino, F. Fracassi). Plasma Deposition (A. Koch). Correlations between Active Plasma Species and Steel Surface Nitriding in Microwave Postdischarge Reactors (A. Ricard et al.). Simultaneous Removal of NOx SOx and Soot in Diesel Engine Exhaust by Plasma/Oil Dynamics Means (K. Fujii). DeNOx DeSOx Process by Gas Energization (L. Civitano, E. Sani). Microwave Excitation Technology (P. Leprince, J. Marec). Negative Ion Source Technology (H.J. Hopman, R.M.A. Heeren). Quasistationary Optical Discharges on Solid Targets (V.B. Fedorov). Index.

Describing non-equilibrium "cold" plasmas through a chemical physics approach, this book uses the state-to-state plasma kinetics, which considers each internal state as a new species with its own cross sections. Extended atomic and molecular master equations are coupled with Boltzmann and Monte Carlo methods to solve the electron energy distribution function. Selected examples in different applied fields, such as microelectronics, fusion, and aerospace, are presented and discussed including the self-consistent kinetics in RF parallel plate reactors, the optimization of negative ion sources and the expansion of high enthalpy flows through nozzles of different geometries. The book will cover the main aspects of the state-to-state kinetic approach for the description of nonequilibrium cold plasmas, illustrating the more recent achievements in the development of kinetic models including the self-consistent coupling of master equations and Boltzmann equation for electron dynamics. To give a complete portrayal, the book will assess fundamental concepts and theoretical formulations, based on a unified methodological approach, and explore the insight in related scientific problems still opened for the research community.

Fundamental Aspects of Plasma Chemical Physics: Transport develops basic and advanced concepts of plasma transport to the modern treatment of the Chapman-Enskog method for the solution of the Boltzmann transport equation. The book invites the reader to consider actual problems of the transport of thermal plasmas with particular attention to the derivation of diffusion- and viscosity-type transport cross sections, stressing the role of resonant charge-exchange processes in affecting the diffusion-type collision calculation of viscosity-type collision integrals. A wide range of topics is then discussed including (1) the effect of non-equilibrium vibrational distributions on the transport of vibrational energy, (2) the role of electronically excited states in the transport properties of thermal plasmas, (3) the dependence of transport properties on the multitude of Saha equations for multi-temperature plasmas, and (4) the effect of the magnetic field on transport properties. Throughout the book, worked examples are provided to clarify concepts and mathematical approaches. This book is the second of a series of three published by the Bari group on fundamental aspects of plasma chemical physics. The first book, Fundamental Aspects of Plasma Chemical Physics: Thermodynamics, is dedicated to plasma thermodynamics; and the third, Fundamental Aspects of Plasma Chemical Physics: Kinetics, deals with plasma kinetics.

"Fundamental Aspects of Plasma Chemical Physics - Thermodynamics" develops basic and advanced concepts of plasma thermodynamics from both classical and statistical points of view.

After a refreshment of classical thermodynamics applied to the dissociation and ionization regimes, the book invites the reader to discover the role of electronic excitation in affecting the properties of plasmas, a topic often overlooked by the thermal plasma community.

Particular attention is devoted to the problem of the divergence of the partition function of atomic species and the state-to-state approach for calculating the partition function of diatomic and polyatomic molecules. The limit of ideal gas approximation is also discussed, by introducing Debye-Huckel and virial corrections.

Throughout the book, worked examples are given in order to clarify concepts and mathematical approaches.

This book is a first of a series of three books to be published by the authors on fundamental aspects of plasma chemical physics. The next books will discuss transport and kinetics.

"

This book is devoted to the systematic treatment of nonequi 1 ibrium vibrational kinetics in molecular systems. Particular emphasis is given to the vibrational excitation of diatomic molecules by low-energy electrons in a discharge and by IR photons in laser-pumped systems. The book follows the different steps of the introduction, redistribution, loss, and chemical conversion of the vibrational quanta, from the points of view of the overall kinetics and the dynamics of elementary processes. These two aspects are balanced in a multidisciplinary approach. The different chapters give the basic instruments (theoretical and experimental) which are needed to understand the ki netics of nonequilibrium systems. The book will introduce the reader to different areas such as plasmachemistry, laser chemistry, IR and Raman spectroscopy, and relaxation phenomena, emphasizing how the vibrational energy affects such research fields. The chapters dedicated to collisional dynamics involving vibrational excited molecules provide an introduc tion to the modern techniques uti 1 ized in the scattering theory of inelastic and reactive collisions. The extension of the vibrational kinetics to polyatomic mole cules, discussed in Chap. 10, is the natural bridge between coll ision and coll i sionless regimes. In conclusion, we hope that the approach followed in this book will stimulate the collaboration of researchers coming from different research fields, which are too often completely separate."

A scientist is always led by intellectual curiosity; obviously he has collected information about the subjects of the field of interest in a systematic way (this attitude was moved by a peculiar interest that lets him investigate on all aspects of the problem, also dwelling upon aspects apparently marginal or non-traditional (this habit was not taught to him by anyone). In this case he already shows the so called "scheme-breaking" attitude rather than an attitude that would imply a systematic and essential examination of the state of art. This book addresses the scientific investigation carried out with the greatest originality driven by that intellectual curiosity but it must face the experimental evidence to get irrefutable results.