The Influence of Oblique Magnetic Fields on the Emissive Plasma Sheath.

The interactions between plasma and material surfaces are a critical and often limiting factor in applications of current interest, such as sustained fusion power and electric propulsion. These plasma-material interactions (PMI) are a phenomenon governed by the plasma sheath, which can drive the emission of electrons from the material surface. When present, emitted electrons, in turn, modify the sheath structure, leading to an interplay between the sheath and the emission dynamics. Further, external electromagnetic fields, a core component of these applications also contribute to this deeply coupled system.

To investigate the relevant physics behind these complex interactions, we adopt a continuum kinetic approach by leveraging the Gkeyll code. We resolve kinetic phenomena by evolving the distribution function in a discontinuous Galerkin framework applied to the Vlasov-Maxwell-Fokker-Planck set of equations. This work seeks to build a better understanding of PMI by focusing on the role of secondary electron emissions in magnetized sheaths. We aim to provide insights into the impact the field strength and angle of incidence have on sheath characteristics, emission dynamics and plasma transport.