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UNDER RECONSTRUCTION (slowly...)   Updated: 10/97

Sheath resistance explanation:

Sheath resistance explanation:

  • Describing why the sheath resistance should depend critically on the charge density is both easy (qualitatively) and difficult (quantitatively).
  • Qualitatively:
    • Rsh = Vsheath/Isheath (dc)
    • If the charge density increases, the amount of current carried through the sheath should also increase for a given potential drop since: J(random)@0.25*ni*vi. Therefore, Rsh should decrease as 1/ni (in the coarsest approximation.)
  • Quantitatively:
    • Vsheath @ Vfloat (which does not have a simple dependence on the electron density.)
    • Isheath is space charge limited and does not simply follow ni. The rf fluctuations in the plasma potential determine the sheath average width and Isheath.

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