Screening and sheath formation in a nonequilibrium mixed Cairns-Tsallis electron distribution
- Faculty of Physics, Theoretical Physics Laboratory (TPL), University of Bab-Ezzouar, USTHB, B.P. 32, El Alia, Algiers (Algeria)
The effects of electron nonextensivity for a given nonthermality state, on Debye shielding and electrostatic sheath formation are examined. A physically meaningful Cairns-Tsallis distribution is outlined and a generalized expression for the Debye screening length λ{sub D}{sup q,α} is obtained. It is shown that an increase of the entropic index q causes λ{sub D}{sup q,α} to decrease whatever the amount of plasma nonthermality α. In addition, smaller pertinent values of q along with relatively higher values of α provide larger values of λ{sub D}{sup q,α}. The shielded electrostatic potential falls off as a function of distance more slowly as α increases, a result somewhat analogous to the dynamical shielding decrease (albeit in a different context) of a free charge as it begins to move. Moreover, smaller pertinent values of q along with relatively higher values of α are found to involve higher ion drift speed v{sub i0} for proper sheath formation. As α increases, the sheath electrostatic potential-gradient dΨ{sub s}/dξ becomes abruptly steep slowing down the energetic electrons leakage to the wall. Moreover, the sheath thickness broadens as the electron nonthermality strengthens.
- OSTI ID:
- 22410292
- Journal Information:
- Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 22, Issue 5; Other Information: (c) 2015 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1070-664X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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