Plasma bubble domains: A magnetic bubble analog

Results are presented on the discovery of plasma bubble domains (PBD’s), which occur as regular patterns of localized glow discharges formed under ac excitation in an atmospheric pressure inert gas based mixture confined between large-area, closely spaced, plane-parallel, dielectric-covered electrodes. These plasma bubble domains have many characteristics analogous to those of magnetic bubble domains (MBD’s): (1) Changing the applied field changes the size and the shape of the domain that forms (bubble, stripe, etc.). (2) There is a range of applied fields over which a bubble domain exhibits a corresponding range of stable diameters. (3) Bubble domains are bistable. Whereas MBD’s are used in computer memory devices, PBD’s are most likely to be used in computer display devices. ials; electrodes; surface coatings; electric fields; configuration;