The effect of a field reversal on the spatial transition of the electrons from an active plasma to a field-free remote plasma

Institut für Niedertemperatur-Plasmaphysik, Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn-Straße 19, 17489 Greifswald, Germany

Corresponding author: sigeneger@inp-greifswald.de

Received: 5 November 2002
Accepted: 25 July 2003
Published online: 28 October 2003

Abstract

The spatial transition behaviour of the electron gas on its way from a uniform active plasma through an adjacent region of field decay and reversal into a field-free remote plasma is studied in neon on a nonlocal kinetic basis by solving the appropriate electron Boltzmann equation and by performing complementary Monte Carlo simulations. The main objective of the analysis concerns the complex features of the electron gas in its transition process from a field-driven active plasma, through a range of partial electron trapping in a potential energy valley to a diffusion-driven remote plasma. In this context especially the influence of the electron trapping and of the extent and depth of the potential valley is elaborated. In addition to the macroscopic characterization by means of the important transport and dissipation properties of the electrons their energy space resolved behaviour is derived and interpreted. A distinct decoupling between the spatial evolution of the isotropic and anisotropic part of the velocity distribution function and complex structures in the anisotropic part have been found. These findings could be clearly confirmed by the almost perfect coincidence with corresponding results obtained by the MC simulations. Glow; corona