Title page for ETD etd-051006-112304

Document Type	thesis
Author Name	Figueroa, Shana Suzanne
Email Address	jezebelFIG at hotmail.com
URN	etd-051006-112304
Title	Ion Scattering in a Self-Consistent Cylindrical Plasma Sheath
Degree	MS
Department	Mechanical Engineering
Advisors	Nikolaos A. Gatsonis, Advisor David Cooke, Co-Advisor William Durgin, Committee Member John Blandino, Committee Member Michael Demetriou, Committee Member
Keywords	orbital trajectory ion collection turning point method spherical probes turning angle ion scattering cylindrical probes
Date of Presentation/Defense	2006-05-08
Availability	unrestricted
Abstract The Turning Point Method (TPM) for the evaluation of ion scattering in a sheath of a biased probe immersed in an unmagnetized plasma is reviewed. The TPM implemented originally in a computer program for spherical probes is expanded to include cylindrical probes as well as the evaluation of the turning angle of the charged particle (repelled or attracted) around the probe. TPM results have the potential to provide a standard against which to compare more complicated current collection simulations. TPM results are validated by comparing with Laframboise’s earlier work for current collection in the Orbital Motion Limited regime. Calculations of the turning angle of a charged particle with specific energy and angular momentum revealed that higher plasma shielding limits the range of impact parameters that experience significant scattering, and that attracted particles entering tangent to the sheath experience increased scattering. The TPM results also show that there are significant changes in orbital trajectories between different space charges within the Orbital Motion Limited limit.
Files	Figueroa.pdf

Browse by Author | Browse by Department | Search all available ETDs