Complex oscillations induced by the nonlinear dynamics of the fireballs in plasma

This paper reports on experimental investigation of the multiple fireballs dynamics in low-temperature argon plasma. Very complex oscillations of the current collected by the electrode, as well as of the plasma potential were recorded, in connection with this dynamics. In certain experimental conditions these oscillations were observed to become more and more complex at the increasing of the potential on the electrode, but are extremely stable, no any chaotic state being reached. This is a very important result for the applications. Also, by analyzing the oscillations of the plasma parameters, important information on the elementary processes involved in the fireballs dynamics was obtained. The electron-neutral impact excitations and ionizations play the most important role in this phenomenon.