Fluid model treatment of surface plasma structures

A fluid model is presented for the purpose of calculating numerically the structures of surface plasmas with neutrals returning from the surface, in collision-dominated parameter regimes. Limiting corrections to thermal conduction and viscous pressure are obtained through comparisons with previous Fokker--Planck transport calculations. The model includes removal by pumping, as well as by ionization, of some of the returning neutrals, and solutions are obtained for different relative strengths of pumping. Increasing velocities of plasma flow toward the surface and increasing plasma temperatures near the surface are seen with increased pumping. In the asymptotic region, far from the surface, agreement is found between these families of numerical model solutions and two classes of analytic solutions. Applications to other fundamental and applied problems are discussed