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Title: Numerical studies of the high power microwave breakdown in gas using the fluid model with a modified electron energy distribution function

Journal Article · · Physics of Plasmas
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3652845· OSTI ID:22046936
; ; ; ;  [1]
  1. Institute of Electromagnetics, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu 610031 (China)

A modified electron energy distribution function (EEDF) is introduced into the fluid model and its effects on the high power microwave (HPM) breakdown in air and argon are investigated. A proper numerical scheme for the finite-difference time-domain method is employed to solve the fluid model. Numerical simulations show that the HPM breakdown time in argon predicted by the fluid model with the modified EEDF agrees well with the results of Particle-in-cell-Monte Carlo collision simulations, while the Maxwellian EEDF results in faster HPM breakdown when the mean electron energy is less than 20 eV. We also confirm that the Maxwellian EEDF can be used in the fluid model for simulating the air breakdown at the low frequencies based on the reported experiments.

OSTI ID:
22046936
Journal Information:
Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 18, Issue 10; Other Information: (c) 2011 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1070-664X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English