Evolution of the electron energy distribution function during genesis of breakdown plasma
- Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology – Kanpur, Kanpur 208016 (India)
During the process of plasma initiation by an electromagnetic wave, it is found that the electron energy distribution function (EEDF) that is initially Maxwellian with the most probable energy at room temperature, evolves with time and tends toward a Bi-Maxwellian – indicating attainment of thermodynamic equilibrium in the individual electron populations prior to breakdown, with a significant increase in hot electron density. In the intermediate states during the evolution, however, non-equilibrium processes are prevalent under fast pulse excitation and the EEDF initially exhibits substantial deviation from a Maxwellian. An analysis of the deviation has been carried out by optimizing the residual sum of squares of the probabilities obtained from the simulation and a fitted Maxwellian curve. The equilibrium regain time defined as the time required to attain thermodynamic equilibrium again, is investigated as a function of neutral pressure, wave electric, and external magnetostatic fields.
- OSTI ID:
- 22303754
- Journal Information:
- Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 21, Issue 8; Other Information: (c) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1070-664X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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