The fluid theory of steady-state magnetically confined electron clouds sustained by ionization and emission

Summary

The fluid theory is applied to study the axisymmetrical steady-state magnetically confined electron clouds sustained by ionization or emission. These electron clouds can be obtained by means of low-pressure Penning discharge, thermoelectronic emission, ion beam ionization, etc. In the electron clouds the property of motion of electrons can be described by the fluid equations: the continuity equation, the momentum equation, the energy equation, the heat transfer equation and the electrostatic field equation. These equations are used to discuss the equilibrium between supplement and escape of electrons in the clouds and the distributions of the physical quantities of some long electron clouds.