Electron velocity distribution in a weakly ionized plasma with an external electric field
- Department of Mathematics and Physics, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08903 (United States)
The velocity distribution [ital f]([bold v]) of the electron component of a weakly ionized plasma is investigated in a spatially homogeneous external electric field [bold E]. Both static and time-dependent [bold E] are considered. The time evolution of [ital f] is described by a Boltzmann equation in which the ions and neutral particles are assumed to have a Maxwellian distribution with [ital a] [ital priori] specified temperatures while the electron--electron interactions are given by a Landau-type collision integral. The (approximate) solution scheme used to solve this equation for a stationary [ital f] (in a constant field) is found to have nonunique solutions for certain ranges of [ital E], in agreement with that found in earlier investigations using a different method of solution. These results are interpreted to correspond to hysteresis effects when the field is changing very slowly: with the true stable solution undergoing a very sharp changeover, possibly a discontinuous transition, at a certain critical [ital E]. This can be understood intuitively as a transition in the stationary state of the electrons from a low-energy regime dominated by strong coupling to the ions to a high-energy regime dominated by electron--electron and electron--neutral collisions.
- OSTI ID:
- 6568378
- Journal Information:
- Physics of Fluids B; (United States), Journal Name: Physics of Fluids B; (United States) Vol. 5:6; ISSN PFBPEI; ISSN 0899-8221
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
700330* -- Plasma Kinetics
Transport
& Impurities-- (1992-)
BOLTZMANN EQUATION
COLLISIONS
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
DISTRIBUTION FUNCTIONS
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ELECTRON COLLISIONS
ELECTRON-ELECTRON COLLISIONS
ELECTRON-ION COLLISIONS
ELECTRONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
EQUATIONS
FERMIONS
FLUIDS
FUNCTIONS
GASES
ION COLLISIONS
IONIZED GASES
LEGENDRE POLYNOMIALS
LEPTONS
PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
POLYNOMIALS
RELAXATION TIME