Approximate sheath solutions for a planar plasma anode
Authors
Biblarz, O.
Subjects
Advisors
Date of Issue
1991-12-01
Date
Publisher
IEEE
Language
en_US
Abstract
This paper reports that solutions to the anode sheath problem have been studied for the case where the electron and plasma temperature is constant and equal. The planar geometry description of steady, low-temperature collisional plasmas permits certain simplifications to the species continuity equations whereby a single, highly nonlinear equation is obtained for the entire region disturbed by the electrode. This equation is given in terms of the electric field and a variable representing the currents. The authors' formulation includes charged-particle production with a net current flow. Solutions are generated with a nontrivial analytic expression for the electric field of the form: E(y) = E{sub {infinity}} exp {l brace}A/(y + a){sup 2}{r brace}, where a, A and E{sub {infinity}} are shape factors. Defects in the approximation can be minimized by identifying the coefficients for the net production of charges a posteriori, thereby yielding largely non-numerical solutions of some validity.
Type
Article
Description
The article of record as published may be found at http://dx.doi.org/101109/27.125045
Series/Report No
Department
Organization
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
Format
Citation
Journal Name: IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers); (United States); Journal Volume: 19:6
Distribution Statement
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.