Simulations on the Discharge Characteristics of the Plasmas Produced by the Electron Beams at Atmospheric Pressure With the Lattice Boltzmann Method

Simulations on the number density and the temperature distribution of the plasma produced by the electron beam are taken by the fluid model with the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM), for which impact ionization is the major mechanism for plasma generation. The simulation results show that the electron number density of the plasma reaches the maximum value exceeding 10
¹⁶
m
⁻³
at 3-cm downstream the exit of the electron beam on the incident direction under atmospheric pressure when the electron energy is 80 keV. The gas temperature rises due to the heating effect of the electron beam, and the temperature profile is similar to a balloon. The gas flow and background pressure are two important factors that affect the plasma distribution. It is found that the plasma area will expand or compress along the background gas moving direction, and the plasma range is inversely proportional to the background gas pressure.