Numéro |
J. Phys. IV France
Volume 07, Numéro C4, Octobre 1997
XXIIIrd ICPIGXXIIIrd International Conference on Phenomena in Ionized gases |
|
---|---|---|
Page(s) | C4-143 - C4-154 | |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/jp4:1997410 |
J. Phys. IV France 07 (1997) C4-143-C4-154
DOI: 10.1051/jp4:1997410
Nonlocal Electron Kinetics in DC Discharges
L.L. Alves1, G. Gousset2 and C.M. Ferreira11 Centro de Fisica dos Plasmas, Instituto Superior Técnico, 1096 Lisboa codex, Portugal
2 Laboratoire de Physique des Gaz et des Plasmas, Université de Paris-Sud, 91405 Orsay cedex, France
Abstract
The self-consistent modeling of a DC discharge must consider the spatial dependences introduced by the inhomogeneous structure of the radial field and the density gradient. To start tackling the problem, we develop a self-contained formulation to solve the steady-state spatially inhomogeneous electron Boltzmann equation in a plasma positive column. The problem is solved in cylindrical geometry using the classical two-term approximation, with appropriate boundary conditions for the electron velocity distribution function, especially at the tube wall. The present formulation is self-contained in the sense that the relationship between the applied maintaining field and the gas pressure, termed the discharge characteristic, is obtained as an eigenvalue solution to the problem. A progress report on the self-consistent solution to this nonlocal kinetic problem is also presented.
© EDP Sciences 1997