Dynamical properties of self-propelled particles obeying a bounded confidence rule are investigated by means of kinetic theory and agent-based simulations. While memory effects are observed in disordered systems, we show that they also occur in active matter systems. In particular, we find that the system exhibits a giant Kovacs-like memory effect that is much larger than predicted by a generic linear theory. Based on a separation of time scales we develop a nonlinear theory to explain this effect. We apply this theory to driven granular gases and propose further applications to spin glasses.

Plasma chemical reactions in complex Ar/C2H2 and Ar/C2H2/O2 radiofrequency plasmas with formation of nano-particles are investigated. Growing nano-particles cause a growth instability, which leads to temporal variations and a cyclic behaviour of plasma properties. Mass spectrometric observations show the consumption of C2H2 and the formation of polyacetylene C2nH2 molecules which increases with acetylene gas flow. The cycle frequency is a decreasing function of acetylene consumption. The addition of oxygen to the discharge reduces the cycle frequency and the formation of nano-particles and leads to the formation of CO and CO2 molecules presumably through the oxidation of C2H radicals which are formed in the discharge.

Time-resolved investigations of excited argon atom density and temperature and ground-state titanium atom density during high-power impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS, repetition frequency 100 Hz) and direct current pulsed magnetron (repetition frequency 2.5 kHz) discharges (PMDs) in argon employing a titanium target were performed. Atom density and temperature were measured with the help of tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy. Excited argon atoms form during the discharge pulse and again by three-body electron ion recombination in the afterglow. Similarly, the temperature of excited (metastable) argon atoms rises during the plasma on phase and again during the afterglow. The observed temporal evolution of the temperature is faster than expected from thermal conductivity considerations, which is taken as an indication that metastable and ground-state argon atoms are not in thermal equilibrium. The time dependence of titanium atoms can be explained by recombination and diffusion. The results provide new insights into the physics of PMDs.

Key words Escape factor, rf discharge in argon, metastable state, emission spectroscopy, TDLAS.Reabsorption of the emitted light in the plasma volume has recently been used for density measurements of the lower level of optical transition by interpretation of emission spectra employing the escape factor concept. Following this idea, we apply this method to a radio-frequency argon discharge. By revising the theoretical background, the impact of different assumptions on excited species spatial distributions is investigated. Comparing with 1s5 and 1s4 concentrations obtained with laser absorption spectroscopy, the range of applicability of those assumptions is analyzed at different discharge parameters.

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