Modeling of Inelastic Collisions in a Multifluid Plasma: Excitation and Deexcitation

TL;DR

This paper introduces a comprehensive kinetic theory-based model for inelastic collisions in multifluid plasmas, accurately capturing excitation and deexcitation processes and revealing their significant impact on plasma properties.

Contribution

The paper presents a novel, general model for inelastic collisions in multifluid plasmas that enforces detailed balance and aligns with all asymptotic limits, verified through Monte Carlo simulations.

Findings

Inelastic collisions significantly affect momentum and thermal resistance coefficients.

The model is validated against Monte Carlo calculations for electron-hydrogen systems.

Application to ionization and recombination processes is underway.

Abstract

We describe here a model for inelastic collisions for electronic excitation and deexcitation processes in a general, multifluid plasma. The model is derived from kinetic theory, and applicable to any mixture and mass ratio. The principle of detailed balance is strictly enforced, and the model is consistent with all asymptotic limits. The results are verified with direct Monte Carlo calculations, and various numerical tests are conducted for the case of an electron-hydrogen two-fluid system, using a generic, semi-classical model of collision cross sections. We find that in some cases, the contribution of inelastic collisions to the momentum and thermal resistance coefficients is not negligible, in contrast to the assumptions of current multifluid models. This fundamental model is also applied to ionization and recombination processes, the studies on which are currently underway.