Instability in a radio-frequency discharge in argon in the presence of a magnetic field

Abstract

Some experimental results and their theoretical interpretation are presented on the plasma instabilities found in a radio-frequency discharge in argon in a magnetic field. The cylindrical plasma vessel has a conducting wall and a length-to-diameter ratio of less than one. No narrow-band sinusoidal oscillations are obtained except for within the approximate pressure range 0.1 to 1 Torr, where a low-frequency, high-mode-number oscillation is found. This latter is tentatively accounted for using hydrodynamic theory.