Issue Eur. Phys. J. AP Volume 22, Number 1, April 2003 Page(s) 29 - 39 Section Plasmas, Discharges and Processes DOI 10.1051/epjap:2003015 Published online 25 February 2003

Eur. Phys. J. AP 22, 29-39 (2003)
DOI: 10.1051/epjap:2003015

A particle-in-cell/Monte Carlo model of the Ar ion collection in He gas by a cylindrical Langmuir probe in the transition regime

F. Taccogna, S. Longo and M. Capitelli

Dipartimento di Chimica dell'Università and IMIP-CNR, sect. Bari, via Orabona 4, 70126 Bari, Italy

cscpft61@area.ba.cnr.it

(Received: 17 May 2002 / Received in final form and accepted: 20 December 2002 Published online: 25 February 2003 )

Abstract
This article presents a particle-in-cell (PIC)/test-particle Monte Carlo (TPMC) simulation of the dynamics of Ar ⁺ ions in the region (sheath and presheath) surrounding an attracting cylindrical Langmuir probe at medium He buffer gas pressure. The numerical model is based on a combination of PIC simulation for the ion component and fluid description for the electrons using the Boltzmann relation. The electric field is self-consistently computed via the Poisson equation. The neutrals are modeled directly by an analytical method. The elastic collisions between Ar ⁺ ions and He atoms are accounted for using a TPMC method based on the polarization potential theory. The results of the present simulation are compared with measurements, with other probe theories and the results of other authors simulations.

PACS
52.65.Rr - Particle-in-cell method.
52.25.Dg - Plasma kinetic equations.
52.40.Hf - Plasma-material interactions; boundary layer effects .

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