Open AccessThe initiation phase of pseudospark discharge in a hollow cathode via PIC/MCC simulation
Author(s) -
Zheng Fei-Teng,
Zhonghai Yang,
Xiaolin Jin
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
wuli xuebao
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.199
H-Index - 47
ISSN - 1000-3290
DOI - 10.7498/aps.57.990
Subject(s) - cathode , ionization , materials science , atomic physics , monte carlo method , particle in cell , electric field , phase (matter) , space charge , plasma , ion , physics , electron , chemistry , nuclear physics , statistics , mathematics , quantum mechanics
We have developed a theoretical and computational model to study the initiation phase of pseudospark discharges in a hollow cathode via a quasi-three-dimensional electrostatic particle-in-cell plus Monte Carlo collision(PIC/MCC) method. The numerical results clearly identified different processes of ionization growth. It has been found that the ionization processes are determined by hollow cathode effect and local electric field. The growth is dependent on α ionization multiplication due to local space charge in the stage from initial ionization growth to the onset of the hollow cathode effect, and then the hollow cathode effect becomes the leading factor.