A GLOBAL BASIS FUNCTION-APPROACH TO DC GLOW-DISCHARGE SIMULATION

A pseudospectral discretization method based on polynomial trial funct ions was used to solve a self-consistent DC glow discharge model to st udy the interplay between modeling assumptions and convergence of the numerical solution techniques. It was found that the assumed form of t he electron diffusivity's temperature dependence strongly influenced t he computed solutions, Simulation results demonstrate that the discret ization method is an easy-to-implement, numerically stable technique c apable of the resolution required in the plasma sheath regions. (C) 19 98 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.