R D White et al 2009 J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 42 194001 doi:10.1088/0022-3727/42/19/194001
R D White1, R E Robson1,2, S Dujko1,3, P Nicoletopoulos4 and B Li5
Show affiliationsThe kinetic theory of charged particles in gases has come a long way in the last 60 years or so, but many of the advances have yet to find their way into contemporary studies of low-temperature plasmas. This review explores the way in which this gap might be bridged, and focuses in particular on the analytic framework and numerical techniques for the solution of Boltzmann's equation for both electrons and ions, as well as on the development of fluid models and semi-empirical formulae. Both hydrodynamic and non-hydrodynamic regimes are considered and transport properties are calculated in various configurations of dc and ac electric and magnetic fields. We discuss in particular the duality in transport coefficients arising from non-conservative collisions (attachment, ionization).
52.25.Dg Plasma kinetic equations
52.20.Hv Atomic, molecular, ion, and heavy-particle collisions
Issue 19 (7 October 2009)
Received 7 April 2009, in final form 12 June 2009
Published 18 September 2009
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