Electron swarms in two phase plasmas

In this paper, the simulation will be described and the effect of particulate matter on the EEDF and electron transport coefficients in partially ionized plasmas will be discussed. The authors find that for typical plasmas (gas pressure 3--10 Torr, electron density 109--1012 cm-3) particulate densities in excess of 104--105 are required to significantly perturb the EEDF. In this range, the rate coefficient for electron impact ionization is decreased sufficiently that the self sustaining voltage of a positive column discharge will increase. The local constriction of current by the occluding effects of the sheath is also discussed