In the dc discharge case, it is well known that the ions streaming toward the cathode surface and follow the flux conservation from sheath edge to the wall. According to collisional dominated child's lang. law, the current associated with ion flux is related to the sheath thickness and potential on the cathode. If the potential on the cathode surface is changed to higher negative value that leads increase in the current to the cathode and reduces the thickness of sheath. For a given pressure, the change in sheath thickness has impact on the ionization rate and electric field gradient. With increasing the ionization rate, ions density is increased. On other side, higher field gradient may increase the ions velocity at the sheath edge. Since, total flux is multiplication of density and velocity therefore it is difficult to isolate the contribution from density and ions velocity to total increased flux. is there any paper or letter that can give some estimation about density and ion velocity variations with the sheath thickness or cathode potential ? 

More Mangilal Choudhary's questions See All
Similar questions and discussions