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The plasma--sheath transition in an asymmetric collisionless plasma

Journal Article · · Physics of Fluids B; (USA)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.859879· OSTI ID:5699072
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  1. Institut fuer Theoretische Physik I, Ruhr-Universitaet Bochum, Bochum, Germany (DE)
The plasma--sheath problem ({lambda}{sub D} {r arrow} 0) for an asymmetric warm collision-free plasma is solved in plane parallel geometry. To this end Emmert's model source term (Phys. Fluids {bold 23}, 803 (1980)) is generalized to account for a superimposed plasma drift. The quasineutral plasma approximation results in a system of coupled integral equations that can be solved analytically. In contrast to Emmert's symmetric model the upstream facing sheath edge shows the usual field singularity. At the downstream facing sheath edge, a finite field strength and an oversatisfied Bohm criterion are found. These results are in full agreement with general considerations on the Bohm criterion and on the sheath edge field singularity (Phys. Fluids B {bold 1}, 961 (1989)).
OSTI ID:
5699072
Journal Information:
Physics of Fluids B; (USA), Journal Name: Physics of Fluids B; (USA) Vol. 3:3; ISSN 0899-8221; ISSN PFBPE
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English