Fokker-Planck description of particle charging in ionized gases

Journal Article · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1997 · Physical Review. E, Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.55.991· OSTI ID:470828

Matsoukas, T; Russell, M ^[1]

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1. Department of Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802 (United States)

We present a Fokker-Planck description of the charging of particles weakly in ionized gases and of the charge fluctuations arising from the statistical nature of this process. Charge fluctuations constitute a Markov process and in the limit of linear charging currents or large particles this process is also Gaussian. The time scale of fluctuations is inversely proportional to the particle size and ion concentration and for small particles it is significantly larger than the particle diffusion time. In this regime Brownian diffusion becomes a mechanism by which charge fluctuations are transported into different regions of the plasma. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}

• OSTI ID: 470828
• Journal Information: Physical Review. E, Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics, Journal Name: Physical Review. E, Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 55; ISSN 1063-651X; ISSN PLEEE8
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
BROWNIAN MOVEMENT
ELECTRIC CHARGES
ELECTRON COLLISIONS
FLUCTUATIONS
FOKKER-PLANCK EQUATION
GLOW DISCHARGES
ION COLLISIONS
IONIZATION
LIFETIME
MARKOV PROCESS
PARTICLE SIZE
PARTICULATES
PLASMA
WEAKLY IONIZED GASES