Transport Phenomena in Low-Energy Plasmas

Abstract

An extended Chapman‐Cowling formalism is used to derive transport differential equations for the charged‐particle species in low‐energy, three‐component, two‐temperature plasmas consisting of electrons, ions, and neutrals. The analysis is developed in two parts: (a) the charged‐particle Boltzmann equations are solved for the charged‐particle distribution functions; (b) these distribution functions are used to reduce the charged‐particle hydrodynamic equations into a system of differential equations involving the densities, temperatures, and electrostatic potential of the plasma, and a set of transport coefficients which depend upon the prevailing collision laws. A general procedure for the computation of the transport coefficients is given, and illustrative numerical results are presented for specific collision laws.