Fluid modeling of the atmospheric pressure helium direct current microdischarge coupled with the two-term Boltzmann equation

Abstract

We examine the Space-Dependent Electron Energy Distribution Function model coupled with plasma fluid equation for atmospheric pressure direct current microdischarge in helium. The simulation were performed in COMSOL Multiphysics using Plasma Module. In the model, the Boltzmann equation in the classical two-term approximation is solved for each position of the discharge region and is coupled with the plasma fluid equations by way of the electron mean energy. Utilizing initial data derived from the Boltzmann equation solution, the rate constants and transport coefficients are computed, which are used in the fluid model, thus closing the computational loop. To validate this approach, we compare simulation results with both the outcomes of the “local mean energy approximation” model and experimental data. Here we show that simulation results exhibit good agreement with experimental results, underscoring the fidelity of using coupled computational approach. Furthermore, disparities between using here the Space-Dependent Electron Energy Distribution Function model and the “local mean energy approximation” model highlight the importance of considering self-consistent computational approaches in atmospheric pressure microdischarge modeling and analysis.