Numerical experiments on charging of a spherical body in a plasma with Maxwellian distributions of charged particles

• Published in: The European physical journal. D, Atomic, molecular, and optical physics Atomic, molecular, and optical physics, 2017-12, Vol.71 (12), p.1-7, Article 318
• Main Authors: Krasovsky, Victor L., Kiselyov, Alexander A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applications of Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos Theory; Atomic; Charged particles; Charging; Computer simulation; Distribution functions; Molecular; Optical and Plasma Physics; Perturbation methods; Physical Chemistry; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Plasma; Quantum Information Technology; Quantum Physics; Regular Article; Screening; Space charge; Spectroscopy/Spectrometry; Spherical plasmas; Spintronics
• ISSN: 1434-6060; 1434-6079
• DOI: 10.1140/epjd/e2017-80252-1

New results of numerical simulation of collisionless plasma perturbation caused by a sphere absorbing electrons and ions are presented. Consideration is given to nonstationary phenomena accompanying the process of charging as well as to plasma steady state reached at long times. Corresponding asymptotic values of charges of the sphere and trapped-ion cloud around it have been found along with self-consistent electric field pattern depending on parameters of the unperturbed plasma. It is established that contribution of the trapped ions to screening of the charged sphere can be quite significant, so that the screening becomes essentially nonlinear in nature. A simple interconnection between the sphere radius, electron and ion Debye lengths has been revealed as the condition for maximum trapped-ion effect. Kinetic structure of the space charge induced in the plasma is discussed with relation to the specific form of the unperturbed charged particle distribution functions. Graphical abstract