Kinetic model of a plasma in contact with an ion-emitting anode surface

A collision-less, one-dimensional kinetic model was developed to describe the potential profile within a plasma sheath in contact with an anode surface where the anode emits ions into the plasma. Solutions are presented in normalized form, describing a wide range of emitted ion currents and bulk plasma parameters. The neutralization parameter was found to not directly correlate to plasma neutrality. Constraints were given for the potential drop across the sheath that are required for monotonically increasing potential profiles. It was found that as the emitted current from the wall increased, the potential drop across the sheath decreased in magnitude. Also, for the same plasma conditions and potential drop across the sheath, multiple potential profiles existed.