ISSN:
1089-7674
Source:
AIP Digital Archive
Topics:
Physics
Notes:
The problem of multiple time scales in modeling plasmas by dynamical particle simulation methods, such as the particle-in-cell (PIC) method, is well known. One important cause is the large ratio of the ion and electron mass. Ways to overcome this problem are the implicit PIC, or simply, the use of a reduced ion–electron mass ratio. However, these methods are not acceptable in modeling dc glow discharges by the PIC-Monte Carlo hybrid simulation technique. Therefore, a new method called asynchronous cycling was developed, which manipulates the synchronization of the electron and ion simulation cycles. It allows a 50 times faster convergence due to direct reduction of the different time scales for situations in which the changes of macroscopic quantities are slower than the ion movement. This is demonstrated by the modeling of a complete one-dimensional dc glow discharge including cathode fall, plasma bulk, and anode fall. © 1997 American Institute of Physics.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.872454
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