https://doi.org/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
Dipartimento di Chimica dell'Università and IMIP-CNR, sect. Bari, via Orabona 4,
70126 Bari, Italy
Corresponding author: cscpft61@area.ba.cnr.it
Received:
17
May
2002
Revised:
20
December
2002
Accepted:
20
December
2002
Published online:
25
February
2003
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
© EDP Sciences, 2003
