Phys. Rev. Lett. 103, 135002 (2009) [4 pages]Theory of a Stationary Current-Free Double Layer in a Collisionless PlasmaReceived 26 March 2009; published 24 September 2009 Current-free double layers can develop in a collisionless, inertia-controlled plasma with two electron populations, expanding in a convergent-divergent nozzle. The double layer characteristics depend on whether they develop at the nozzle divergent side, convergent side, or throat. The divergent-geometry double layer describes faithfully the Hairapetian-Stenzel experiment [ Phys. Rev. Lett. 65 175 (1990)], whereas the two other types correspond with those studied in self-similar expansions and wall-collection models of similar plasmas. © 2009 The American Physical Society URL:
http://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevLett.103.135002
DOI:
10.1103/PhysRevLett.103.135002
PACS:
52.27.−h, 52.30.Ex, 52.75.Di
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