Particle-in-cell simulations of ambipolar and nonambipolar diffusion in magnetized plasmas

T. Lafleur*, R. W. Boswell

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    19 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Using a two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulation, we investigate cross-field diffusion in low-pressure magnetized plasmas both in the presence and absence of conducting axial boundaries. With no axial boundary, the cross-field diffusion is observed to be ambipolar, as expected. However, when axial boundaries are added, the diffusion becomes distinctly nonambipolar. Electrons are prevented from escaping to the transverse walls and are preferentially removed from the discharge along the magnetic field lines, thus allowing quasi-neutrality to be maintained via a short-circuit effect at the axial boundaries.

    Original languageEnglish
    Article number053505
    JournalPhysics of Plasmas
    Volume19
    Issue number5
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - May 2012

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