Computational and Applied Math Proseminar

Department of Mathematics and Statistics
Arizona State University

Thursday, April 3, 2003, 12:15 p.m. in GWC 604

Pierre Degond

CNRS/University of Toulouse

On a Model of Plasma Expansion in Vacuum

Abstract We consider a system consisting of a vacuum gap separated by two electrodes. A plasma is injected at the cathode and expands. From the sharp plasma boundary, electrons are accelerated towards the anode, forming an electron beam. In this talk, from a two-fluid isentropic Euler system for each species of particles coupled with the Poisson equation, we perform an asymptotic analysis, yielding a quasineutral model for the plasma region and a Child-Langmuir law for the beam region. These two models are connected through a transmission layer problem. Finally, a numerical validation of this asymptotic model against the original two-fluid model is given.
This is joint work with C. Parzani and M.H. Vignal.

For further information please contact: mittelmann@asu.edu