Plasma Sheaths and Boundaries

Plasma sheaths are thin layers at the boundary between plasma—a high-energy state of matter composed of charged particles—and other materials, like solids or gases. Within these regions, electric fields form due to differences in charge. This affects how particles move, leading to oscillations and waves within the plasma. The behavior of these waves is crucial for applications like fusion energy and space physics. Essentially, plasma sheaths help control how energy and particles interact at surfaces, influencing overall plasma behavior and stability.