Multiple-water-bag simulation of inhomogeneous plasma motion near an electrode

Abstract A computer code has been developed to model an isotropic inhomogeneous collisionless plasma surrounding a DC-biased spherical or infinite cylindrical electrode to which a radio-frequency potential is applied. The initial Maxwellian velocity distribution of the plasma is approximated by a multiple-water-bag distribution. The instantaneous response of the plasma to a time-dependent potential applied to the electrode is calculated in the electrostatic approximation. Transient and nonlinear effects can be modeled in this way. Use of the multiple-water-bag method results in less numerical noise than would be seen using, for example, a particle-in-cell method with a comparable number of simulation particles.