LAUSR

We study analytically and demonstrate numerically that the local effective field approximation (LEFA) for plasma fluid modeling of high-frequency (GHz-THz) discharges in atmospheric pressure air is not valid in regions where the time scale for electron energy transfer to heavy particles is less than the time-period of the electromagnetic (EM) wave. Greater than 50% modulation of the electron temperature around its mean value is found for frequencies around and under 10 GHz for atmospheric pressure air discharges. This modulation decreases significantly as the EM wave frequency increases. Fully coupled numerical simulation of a resonant metallic cut-array illuminated by high frequency EM waves demonstrates that the LEFA can lead to significant errors on both temporal and spatial evolution of the plasma, in cases where this modulation is significant. The LEFA for high pressure air discharges is found to be valid when the EM wave frequency is around or higher than 100 GHz. For lower frequencies or when the r...