Plasma parameters of diffusion-controlled microwave discharges in surface-wave fields

Results from diagnostics of diffusion-controlled stationary gas discharges maintained in the field of propagating surface waves are presented in this study. The set of the plasma parameters obtained includes: 1) the plasma density n~, averaged over the discharge cross section; and its axial profile n~(z);. 2) the electron-neutral elastic collision frequency /spl nu/; 3) the parameter /spl mu/, which describes the radial profile of the plasma density; 4) the parameter /spl Theta/, the power absorbed on average by an electron, and its axial variation /spl Theta/ (z); 5) the electron temperature T/sub e/ (z); and 6) the gas temperature T/sub g/. The mechanisms of electron heating and discharge self-consistency are discussed.