Collisional model of the plasma presheath

Journal Article · Wed Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1988 · Phys. Fluids; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.866663· OSTI ID:5256695

Scheuer, J T; Emmert, G A

The problem of a collisional plasma flowing into a perfectly absorbing wall has been investigated using a kinetic approach. The plasma is assumed to have a nonzero ion temperature and a Boltzmann distribution of electrons. Ion collisions are included in the analysis through a Bhatnagar--Gross--Krook (BGK) collision term. An equation describing the electrostatic potential variation in the presheath region is derived. This equation is solved numerically for a range of collisionalities. In addition to the potential variation in the presheath, the ion distribution function, the wall potential, and the ion particle and energy fluxes into the sheath are also calculated. The calculation is repeated for three different cases. In the first case ion--neutral collisions are modeled by conserving only particles in the BGK operator. Ion--ion collisions are modeled by conserving particles and momentum in the second case, and by conserving particles, momentum, and energy in the third case. These results give insight into the role of collision conservation laws in describing the plasma flow.

• Research Organization: Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics Department, University of Wisconsin: Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706-1687
• OSTI ID: 5256695
• Journal Information: Phys. Fluids; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Fluids; (United States) Vol. 31:6; ISSN PFLDA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700103* -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Kinetics
ABSORPTION
COLLISIONAL PLASMA
COLLISIONS
CONSERVATION LAWS
COULOMB FIELD
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ENERGY ABSORPTION
EQUATIONS
EXPANSION
ION COLLISIONS
ION-ION COLLISIONS
KINETIC EQUATIONS
NUMERICAL SOLUTION
PLASMA
PLASMA EXPANSION
PLASMA SHEATH
VARIATIONS
WALLS