Kinetic Lagrange simulation of a source-driven magnetized oblique presheath

A source driven magnetized oblique presheath is analyzed by means of a kinetic model and a detailed kinetic simulation using a backward-Lagrangian characteristics based simulation procedure. The four-dimensional ion phase-space distribution function and its associated moments, namely, density, flow velocity, and parallel and perpendicular temperatures are simulated. Extra simplification in the moment derivation results from the simulation procedure which facilitates the use of a structured distribution of nodes in the three-dimensional velocity space. Strong kinetic effects appear in the oblique geometry as the two temperatures are observed to drop preferentially in the limits of normal and grazing incidences. The effects are reflected also in the detailed behavior of flow velocity profiles which show a finite dependence on the angle of magnetic field's incidence in the region of magnetized presheath. A comparison of the kinetic solutions with those obtained from the existing fluid models is also presented. (c) 2005 American Institute of Physics.