Most of visible matter in the Universe is in the form of plasma. Plasmas make up stars and planetary ionospheres and are of relevance in a number of technological processes and in controlled nuclear fusion studies. Our research is aimed at the experimental diagnostics (emission spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, electrical probes) and kinetic modelling of cold plasmas (having fast electrons, but room temperature neutrals). We employ DC discharges produced in hollow cathode cells, and RF discharges. Thus far we have concentrated on plasmas of nitrogen oxides and air (related to the earth’s ionosphere), and in plasmas of hydrogen with admixtures of methane, nitrogen, oxygen, argon and deuterium. At present, we are involved in the generation of nanoparticles and thin films by plasmas and their characterization and processing.
This kind of plasmas is of interest in astrophysics, in controlled nuclear fusion devices and in the semiconductor industry. Our investigation is performed in cooperation with the Molecular Astrophysics Group of CSIC at the ICMM, the Institute of Optoelectronics Systems and Microtechnology (ISOM) of the Universidad Politécnica of Madrid (UPM), and the Division of Fusion Technology at CIEMAT.
