Effects of nonthermal electrons on plasma expansion into vacuum

The expansion of semi-infinite plasma into vacuum is analyzed with a hydrodynamic model for cold ions assuming electrons modelled by a kappa-type distribution. Similarly to Mora study of a plasma expansion into vacuum [P. Mora, Phys. Rev. Lett. 90, 185002 (2003)], we formulated empirical expressions...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of applied physics 2015-01, Vol.117 (4)
Main Authors: Bennaceur-Doumaz, D., Bara, D., Benkhelifa, E., Djebli, M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
ACCELERATION
Applied physics
CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS
Electric field strength
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ELECTRONS
Empirical analysis
Expanding plasmas
HYDRODYNAMICS
IONS
Nonthermal effects
ONE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
PLASMA
PLASMA EXPANSION
VELOCITY
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Summary:The expansion of semi-infinite plasma into vacuum is analyzed with a hydrodynamic model for cold ions assuming electrons modelled by a kappa-type distribution. Similarly to Mora study of a plasma expansion into vacuum [P. Mora, Phys. Rev. Lett. 90, 185002 (2003)], we formulated empirical expressions for the electric field strength, velocity, and position of the ion front in one-dimensional nonrelativistic, collisionless isothermally expanding plasma. Analytic expressions for the maximum ion energy and the spectrum of the accelerated ions in the plasma were derived and discussed to highlight the electron nonthermal effects on enhancing the ion acceleration in plasma expansion into vacuum.
ISSN:0021-8979
1089-7550
DOI:10.1063/1.4906776