Coupled Transmission Line, Lumped Circuit, and Particle-in-Cell/Monte Carlo Models: Application to Gas Discharge and Plasma Source Simulations

In this study, we introduce a comprehensive numerical framework that integrates transmission line, lumped circuit, and particle-in-cell/Monte Carlo (PIC) models for accurate plasma discharge simulations. Leveraging the Lax-Wendroff method, our approach enables bidirectional coupling between transmission lines, lumped circuits, and PIC models, capturing nonlinear interactions between pulsed power sources and plasma loads. By directly solving transmission line equations, our model enhances fidelity in describing plasma dynamics compared to conventional equivalent circuits. Validation against analytical benchmarks and Simulink results confirms the efficacy of our approach. Through simulations, we elucidate the pulse formation and energy transfer processes in gas discharge phenomena. With this model, we have simulated several gas discharge and plasma sources, including RF gas breakdown, impedance matching of capacitively coupled plasmas, and dielectric barrier discharges. Additionally, our framework exhibits scalability, facilitating its application in diverse discharge scenarios. Furthermore, we extend our investigations to include low-temperature plasma sources, broadening the scope of our research in plasma science and engineering.