Conditions for formation of a kinetic anode layer in crossed E X B fields

摘要

A discharge in crossed electric and magnetic fields (E X B) is considered. E X B discharge serves as a basis for Hall-effect plasma accelerators. In this letter the authors present conditions for formation of a kinetic anode layer by considering an interface between kinetic and hydrodynamic regions. It is found that the kinetic anode layer, which has a thickness of about the electron Larmor radius, is formed in the case of a high magnetic field.