Electron Groups in Solar Wind and Gas Discharge Plasmas

Abstract

The formation of electron groups is a common phenomenon in gas discharges and space plasmas. We describe similarities between electron kinetics in solar wind, cathode region of glow discharges, and magnetic nozzles. Remarkable resemblances between adiabatic focusing of magnetized electrons and spherical geometry effects for neutral particles escaping planet's atmosphere are pointed out. The previously developed kinetic solvers for electrons coupled to Poisson equation for self-consistent simulations of the electric field are used to analyse the formation of electron groups in the cathode region of glow discharges and solar wind plasma.