Abstract
A new method for solving the electron Boltzmann equation in spatially inhomogeneous, steady state plasmas by using a multi-term approximation of the expansion of the electron velocity distribution function is presented. This method is a generalization of that approach which has been recently developed to solve the inhomogeneous kinetic equation using the conventional two-term approximation. The objective of using the multi-term approximation is to improve the accuracy of the spatial relaxation treatment of the electrons and to analyse the impact of higher order terms on the relaxation behaviour of both the electron velocity distribution function and the relevant macroscopic electron quantities. In this paper the higher order approximation is used to study the spatial relaxation of plasma electrons in a constant electric field. The investigations are performed for a model plasma, varying in particular some atomic data of the electron collision processes in this model, and for real plasmas. A detailed comparison of the results relevant to the isotropic and the first anisotropic component of the electron velocity distribution function which have been obtained in the multi-term approximation and in the conventional two-term approximation is made. Based on such studies the accuracy already reached concerning the spatial relaxation process by the simpler two-term approximation is critically evaluated.
Published Version
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 call