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Ion acoustic double layers forming behind irradiated solid objects in streaming plasmas

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 January 2010

W. J. MILOCH,
V. L. REKAA,
H. L. PÉCSELI and
J. TRULSEN
W. J. MILOCH
Affiliation:
University of Oslo, Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics, Box 1029 Blindern, N-0315 Oslo, Norway
V. L. REKAA
Affiliation:
University of Oslo, Physics Department, Box 1048 Blindern, N-0316 Oslo, Norway (hans.pecseli@fys.uio.no)
H. L. PÉCSELI
Affiliation:
University of Oslo, Physics Department, Box 1048 Blindern, N-0316 Oslo, Norway (hans.pecseli@fys.uio.no)
J. TRULSEN
Affiliation:
University of Oslo, Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics, Box 1029 Blindern, N-0315 Oslo, Norway
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Abstract

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Small solid metallic objects in relative motion to thermal plasmas are studied by numerical simulations. We analyze supersonic motions, where a distinctive ion wake is formed behind obstacles. At these plasma drift velocities, ions enter the wake predominantly due to deflections by the electric field in the sheath around the obstacle. By irradiating the back side of the object by ultraviolet (UV) light, we can induce also an enhanced photo-electron population there. The resulting charge distribution gives rise to a pronounced local potential and plasma density well behind the object. This potential variation has the form of a three-dimensional ion acoustic double layer, containing also an ion phase space vortex. The analysis is supported also by one-dimensional numerical simulations to illustrate the importance of boundary conditions, Dirichlet and von Neumann conditions in particular.

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