Présentation

The TMP-D&S team, led by T. Minea, brings together most of the LPGP’s low-pressure plasma research activities. This team has a large number of vacuum plasma reactors for the ‘Discharges and Surfaces’ (D&S) activities, as well as numerous models of various plasmas for the ‘Plasma Theory and Modelling’ (TMP) activities.

The scientific studies carried out by the TMP – D&S team concern the physics of discharges and the power deposition mechanisms that enable the ionisation of gases and the reactions generated. These studies are aimed at understanding the mechanisms governing these discharges, enabling plasmas to be mastered and controlled, from the design of new processes to the analysis of plasma deposits. Its work draws on knowledge acquired either through experimental characterisation of the plasma or through modelling and numerical simulations.

The TMP-D&S team’s research concerns the production, understanding, improvement and optimisation of cold plasmas, but also the production of charged particles (electrons and ions), as well as active species (metastables, radicals, etc.) in the gas phase or in interaction with surfaces. With the reduction in the dimensions of the plasma (micro-plasma), some work concerns discharges that can operate at atmospheric pressure, while others concern vacuum discharges (without injected gas). Although the research carried out by this team always favours a fundamental approach, it regularly leads to applications such as the deposition of thin films, plasma treatment of polymers, combustion control and the design of new plasma devices and processes. Some of the work is at the interface between cold and hot plasmas, such as research on the ITER project, where cold plasmas are created by very high-energy particles (neutral injector, on-board plasma, etc.), ionising radiation (synchrotron) or very high voltages (MegaVolts).