Presheath/sheath model with secondary electron emission from two parallel walls

A macroscopic model of the interaction of a plasma with two parallel, electron-emitting walls is presented. Zero Debye-length and total thermalization of the secondary electron emission (SEE) are assumed. The SEE is treated as a free beam within each thin, collisionless sheath, but as part of a single electron population within the presheath. Plasma models with three and two species result in sheath and presheath, respectively. The ion flow at the presheath/sheath transition is sonic, and the sound speed there determines the relation between the temperature of the confined electron populations in sheath and presheath. For the general case of a plasma flowing axially between two annular walls the complete dimensionless solution depends on five parameters. Potential drops in the presheath can be larger than in the sheaths, mainly when charge-saturation is reached in the sheath or for a large effective ion friction in the presheath. The losses of plasma current to the walls are determined totally by the presheath problem, whereas the sheath problem and wall material determine the energy lost by impacting particle. Energy losses change drastically from zero SEE to a SEE yield about 100% when the charge-saturated regime is reached. (C) 2002 American Institute of Physics.