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The formation of a double layer leading to the critical velocity phenomenon

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2009

A. C. Williams
Affiliation:
Space Science Laboratory, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Alabama 35812

Abstract

The formation of a double layer is proposed as the mechanism which produces the critical velocity phenomenon. We examine this hypothesis, qualitatively, and find that the double layer can be a very efficient mechanism for transferring the kinetic energy of the neutral gas into the kinetic energy of electrons which, in turn, will ionize the neutral gas if the critical velocity has been reached or exceeded.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1987

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