Particle-in-cell study of the ion-to-electron sheath transition

Scheiner, Brett; Baalrud, Scott D.; Hopkins, Matthew M.; Yee, Benjamin T.; Barnat, Edward V.

doi:10.1063/1.4960382

Particle-in-cell study of the ion-to-electron sheath transition

Journal Article · Tue Aug 09 00:00:00 EDT 2016 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4960382· OSTI ID:1326057

Scheiner, Brett ^[1]; Baalrud, Scott D. ^[1]; Hopkins, Matthew M. ^[2]; Yee, Benjamin T. ^[2]; Barnat, Edward V. ^[2]

Univ. of Iowa, Iowa City, IA (United States)
Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)

The form of a sheath near a small electrode, with bias changing from below to above the plasma potential, is studied using 2D particle-in-cell simulations. When the electrode is biased within T_e/2_e below the plasma potential, the electron velocity distribution functions (EVDFs) exhibit a loss-cone type truncation due to fast electrons overcoming the small potential difference between the electrode and plasma. No sheath is present in this regime, and the plasma remains quasineutral up to the electrode. The EVDF truncation leads to a presheath-like density and flow velocity gradients. Once the bias exceeds the plasma potential, an electron sheath is present. In this case, the truncation driven behavior persists, but is accompanied by a shift in the maximum value of the EVDF that is not present in the negative bias cases. In conclusion, the flow moment has significant contributions from both the flow shift of the EVDF maximum, and the loss-cone truncation.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE; USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC04-94AL85000; AC05-06OR23100

OSTI ID:: 1326057

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1287752

Report Number(s):: SAND--2016-3872J; 647402

Journal Information:: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 8 Vol. 23; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X

Publisher:: American Institute of Physics (AIP)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Electron sheath evolution controlled by a magnetic field in modified hollow cathode glow discharge Rane, R.; Chauhan, S.; Bharathi, P. Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 25, Issue 9 https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5038907	journal	September 2018
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