Abstract
The existing approach to formulation of the Bohm sheath criterion that determines the existence of a stationary charged near-electrode layer in plasma is critically analyzed. It is shown that the commonly accepted formulation based on the comparison of velocities of the ion drift and ion sound waves in fact compares the parameters of different plasmas and its use leads to methodologically incorrect conclusions. A new formulation of the Bohm sheath criterion is proposed, which limits the ion drift velocity from both above and below.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
D. Bohm, Minimum Ionic Kinetic Energy for a Stable Sheath, in The Characteristics of Electrical Discharges in Magnetic Fields, Ed. by A. Guthrie and R. K. Wakerling (MacGraw-Hill, New York, 1949), pp. 77–86.
F. Chen, Introduction to Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion, 2nd ed., Vol. 1: Plasma Physics (Plenum, New York, 1984).
A. A. Vedenov, E. P. Velikhov, and R. Z. Sagdeev, Nucl. Fusion 1, 82 (1961).
M. Murakami and K. Nishihara, Phys. Fluids B 5, 3441 (1993).
T. E. Sheridan and J. A. Goree, IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci. 17, 884 (1989).
K.-U. Riemann and L. D. Tsendin, J. Appl. Phys. 90, 5487 (2001).
G. D. Severn, H. Wang, E. Ko, and N. Hershkowitz, Phys. Rev. Lett. 90, 145 001 (2003).
D. D. Tskhakaya, B. Eliasson, P. K. Shukla, and S. Kuhn, Phys. Plasmas 11, 3945 (2004).
N. Hershkowitz, Phys. Plasmas 12, 055 502 (2005).
K.-U. Riemann, J. Seebacher, D. D. Tskhakaya, and S. Kuhn, Plasma Phys. Control. Fusion 47, 1949 (2005).
B. A. Alterkop, I. D. Dubinova, and A. E. Dubinov, Zh. Eksp. Teor. Fiz. 129, 197 (2006) [JETP Letters 102, 173 (2006)].
B. A. Alterkop, I. D. Dubinova, A. E. Dubinov, and R. L. Boxman, Contrib. Plasma Phys. 47, 190 (2007).
B. A. Alterkop, I. D. Dubinova, and A. E. Dubinov, Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 77(7), 63 (2007) [Tech. Phys. 52, 884 (2007)].
A. E. Dubinov and L. A. Senilov, Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 80(6), 46 (2010) [Tech. Phys. 55, 799 (2010)].
G. D. Severn, Am. J. Phys. 75, 92 (2007).
A. E. Dubinov, Fiz. Plazmy 35, 1070 (2009) [Plasma Phys. Rep. 35, 991 (2009)].
A. E. Dubinov and I. D. Dubinova, J. Plasma. Phys. 71, 715 (2005).
S. R. Valluri, D. J. Jeffrey, and R. M. Corless, Can. J. Phys. 78, 823 (2000).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Original Russian Text © A.E. Dubinov, L.A. Senilov, 2011, published in Pis’ma v Zhurnal Tekhnicheskoi Fiziki, 2011, Vol. 37, No. 19, pp. 23–29.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Dubinov, A.E., Senilov, L.A. New formulation of the Bohm sheath criterion in terms of ion sound waves. Tech. Phys. Lett. 37, 900–903 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1063785011100038
Received:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S1063785011100038