TY - JOUR
T1 - Energy-resolved electron particle and energy fluxes in positive column plasmas
AU - Kortshagen, U.
AU - Lawler, J. E.
PY - 1999/11/7
Y1 - 1999/11/7
N2 - This paper deals with electron flux densities and electron energy flux densities in positive column discharges. Recent kinetic calculations by Uhrlandt and Winkler have revealed the interesting physical phenomenon of radially inward directed energy flux densities in positive column plasmas. We have used a self-consistent positive column model, based on an accurate and highly detailed Monte Carlo code, to study this effect in more depth. The results of this study show a rather complex physical picture of electron particle and energy flux densities. Electrons with low energies usually exhibit radially outward directed particle and energy flux densities. At energies above the threshold for electronic excitation particle and energy flux densities are usually inward directed. Only close to the wall, at total energies above the wall potential energy, do these flux densities point towards the wall. The thickness of this 'wall loss region' scales with the electron mean-free-path for momentum transfer, i.e. with the inverse of the neutral gas density. The results presented can be qualitatively interpreted in terms of the total-energy picture for the electrons.
AB - This paper deals with electron flux densities and electron energy flux densities in positive column discharges. Recent kinetic calculations by Uhrlandt and Winkler have revealed the interesting physical phenomenon of radially inward directed energy flux densities in positive column plasmas. We have used a self-consistent positive column model, based on an accurate and highly detailed Monte Carlo code, to study this effect in more depth. The results of this study show a rather complex physical picture of electron particle and energy flux densities. Electrons with low energies usually exhibit radially outward directed particle and energy flux densities. At energies above the threshold for electronic excitation particle and energy flux densities are usually inward directed. Only close to the wall, at total energies above the wall potential energy, do these flux densities point towards the wall. The thickness of this 'wall loss region' scales with the electron mean-free-path for momentum transfer, i.e. with the inverse of the neutral gas density. The results presented can be qualitatively interpreted in terms of the total-energy picture for the electrons.
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U2 - 10.1088/0022-3727/32/21/305
DO - 10.1088/0022-3727/32/21/305
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0033341452
SN - 0022-3727
VL - 32
SP - 2737
EP - 2745
JO - Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics
JF - Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics
IS - 21
ER -