Time-dependent calculations of electron energy distribution functions for cold argon gas in the presence of intense black-body radiation

Boltzmann electron kinetic simulations are performed to study the time development of the electron energy distribution in a plasma resulting from a cold argon gas subject to a black-body radiation source (100-300 eV). The study provides insight into the role of ionized electrons on the kinetics duri...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of physics. B, Atomic, molecular, and optical physics Atomic, molecular, and optical physics, 2012-02, Vol.45 (3), p.35701-1-9
Main Authors: ABDALLAH, Joseph, COLGAN, James
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Argon
Atomic and molecular collision processes and interactions
Atomic and molecular physics
Atomic properties and interactions with photons
Electron collisions
Electron energy distribution
Electron scattering
Elementary processes in plasma
Evolution
Exact sciences and technology
Excitation
Ionization
Mathematical analysis
Photoionization of atoms and ions
Photon interactions with atoms
Physics
Physics of gases, plasmas and electric discharges
Physics of plasmas and electric discharges
Radiation absorption
Simulation
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Summary:Boltzmann electron kinetic simulations are performed to study the time development of the electron energy distribution in a plasma resulting from a cold argon gas subject to a black-body radiation source (100-300 eV). The study provides insight into the role of ionized electrons on the kinetics during a period of irradiation. The simulations are performed without any assumptions of electron temperature. The distributions are calculated as a function of time through 1 ps using Boltzmann kinetics, including the appropriate processes that alter state populations and electron energy. The processes included in the electron and atomic kinetics are collisional excitation/de-excitation, photo-excitation/decay, photo-ionization/radiative-recombination, collisional ionization and auto-ionization/di-electronic capture. In addition, terms are included in the electron kinetics to account for electron-electron interactions and for free-free radiation absorption and emission. Results are presented that follow the evolution of the ionization state, effective temperature as well as the electron energy distribution function. The role of inelastic electron collisions, photo-ionization, auto-ionization, resonant radiative excitation and electron-electron interactions is discussed.
ISSN:0953-4075
1361-6455
DOI:10.1088/0953-4075/45/3/035701