Kinetics of Pulsed Anodic Ion Flow in Low-Pressure Gas Discharge with Initiation by Electron Beam

The paper relates to theoretical investigation of a breakdown mechanism in the planar gap filled with low pressure gas. The 1D1V completely kinetic model of the phenomenon is presented, based on a self-consistent solution of the Poisson equation for the electric field, and the Boltzmann kinetic equations for both electrons and singly charged ions. The simulation takes into account collision processes of impact ionization, elastic electron scattering, and resonant ion recharging. The breakdown process of a planar gap of 5 mm filled with nitrogen at a pressure of ~1 Pa and applied anode voltages of 1 and 2.5 kV is considered. The calculation has demonstrated the generation of anode-directional ion flow with mean kinetic energy nominally exceeding the applied anode voltage (multiplied by the elementary charge) due to formation of a "potential hump" at short stage of breakdown. Possibly, the described mechanism also takes place in vacuum arcs, where flows of ions with similar features are observed.