Effects of electron distribution functions on the floating potential of particles in the plasma: thin plasma sheaths

The Druyvesteyn distribution function, an example of a non-Maxwellian distr ibution for electrons, is used to study the effects of electron energy dist ribution functions (EEDFs) on the floating potential of an isolated particl e under thin plasma sheath conditions by comparing the results with a Maxwe llian distribution, and an analytical expression x(f)(D) approximate to 2 r oot x(f)(M) is obtained, where x(f)(D) and x(f)(M) are the normalized float ing potentials with Druyvesteyn and Maxwellian electron distributions, resp ectively. Finally, the results are extended to a whole family of EEDFs with the functional form f(epsilon) = A(p)epsilon(1/2) exp(-B(p)epsilon(P)), wh ere p is an arbitrary number p greater than or equal to 1.