Studies of plasma sheaths and plasma-wall interaction using continuum kinetic simulations*

A continuum kinetic plasma model is used to study plasma sheaths by directly evolving the ion and electron distribution functions using the Vlasov equation along with Maxwell's equations.

With the inclusion of an emitting boundary, the plasma sheath simulations become relevant for a wide range of applications, for example, space propulsion or fusion. However, such boundary conditions can significantly alter the results; theoretically up to point when the electric field potential is reversed.  Therefore, these boundary conditions need to be physics-based and self-consistent.

In this work, a novel method is presented which allows for both self-consistent and efficient implementation of the emitting boundary conditions and its application to magnetized plasma sheath simulations.