Plasma Applications with

CST STUDIO SUITE

V1.1 fsr 03/06/15

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 Suitable Material Models
Bulk:
 If frequency is above ion plasma frequency, ions can be assumed
to be stationary (“Cold plasma approximation”) -> Drude model
(linear or nonlinear)
 If, additionally, a constant B field is present: Gyrotropic model
 For narrowband applications, a constant (lossy) dielectric may
also be used

Sheath:
 Ions are stationary on RF time scale, electrons depleted -> No
free charges in the material, approximate as vacuum

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 Suitable Solvers
CST MICROWAVE STUDIO ®:
 Typically, both T and F solver are suitable.
 Nonlinear Drude material requires the T solver.
 Gyrotropic material requires the F solver.

CST PARTICLE STUDIO ®:

 Very simple and small models might be suitable for the PIC
solver (elastic collisions only, no ionization or recombination).

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 The Drude Model

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 Nonlinear Drude Material
Regular Drude material settings.

Material behaves like regular

dielectric below this (“ON”)
threshold. At threshold, Drude
material is switched on with Plasma
frequency as entered. Then, plasma
frequency varies proportionally to
Sqr(E-field). If the E-field drops
below half this threshold, the
material switches back to a regular
dielectric.

This is the plasma frequency value at

this “OFF” threshold.

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 Nonlinear Material Properties

2*π*f_plasma

2* π *f_maintain

“OFF” “ON”
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 Drude Material Properties

A macro is available to
calculate ballpark figures
for plasma frequency and
collision frequency (linear
Drude material).

Extension for nonlinear

settings to follow.