Abstract
The flow field of a slightly ionized gas between parallel cold-conducting plane walls is investigated theoretically. The gas flows in the direction parallel to conducting walls and the electric current flows in the direction perpendicular to walls. The whole region. is divided into three : the linear, non-linear and sheath regions where the linear diffusion equations, the continuum equations containing inertia terms and collisionless equations are used respectively. These solutions are matched to each other.
Voltage-current characteristic curve is obtained from the sum of potential differences in the three regions. The flow of gas is to increase the electric current between conducting walls. Ions enter the sheath region at the velocity approaching the ambipolar diffusion velocity and acceleration or deceleration of electrons to anode or cathode is enhanced when the current is higher than the value of O (Me/Mi). (Me and Mi are the mass of electrons and positive ions). When gas speed increases, the thickness of non-linear and sheath regions decreases. When electric current increases, the non-linear region grows and the sheath decreases in the anode side, and the change of thickness of cathode non-linear and sheath regions is relatively small compared with the anode side.
