Abstract
The effects of both magnetic field and collisions on presheath properties are experimentally investigated in plasmas with electron temperatures much greater than ion temperatures. Measurements of plasma potential in collisionless plasmas show presheath thicknesses at boundaries oblique to magnetic field to be approximately (Cs/ωci)sin ψ, where Cs is the ion sound speed, ωci is the ion gyrofrequency, and Ψ is the angle between the magnetic field and the normal to the wall boundary. Measurements of plasma potential in collisional plasmas find presheaths consisting of two distinctive regions. With ion–neutral collision mean-free path λn<(Cs/ωci)sin ψ, the presheath region next to the sheath has collisional characteristics and a thickness of approximately (0.5–0.6)λn. The corresponding presheath region adjacent to the bulk plasma has magnetic characteristics and a thickness of approximately (0.5–0.9)(Cs/ωci)sin ψ. Equipotential contours in the collisional region of this presheath are found to be parallel to the boundary, while those in the magnetic region are not.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
