Plasma sheath theory

Plasma sheath theory describes the boundary layer that forms when a plasma—a hot, ionized gas—interacts with a material surface, like a spacecraft or a spacecraft’s antenna. In this region, electric fields develop because electrons and ions move at different rates, creating a voltage barrier that influences how particles flow. This sheath protects the surface from direct contact with the plasma’s energetic particles and impacts how energy and particles are exchanged. Understanding this layer is essential for designing spacecraft and controlling plasma processes, as it affects communication, surface charging, and material interactions in plasma environments.