Hybrid Maxwell-Boltzmann Model of Sheath Evolution in Vacuum Circuit Breakers

This paper analyzes the accuracy of a hybrid Maxwell-Boltzmann model (particle ions, Boltzmann electrons) in describing transient sheath and plasma erosion during a voltage ramp applied across an initially neutral plasma, comparing results with Particle-In-Cell (PIC) simulations for both non-collisional and collisional plasmas. The study focuses on the post-arc phase of vacuum circuit breakers, showing that the hybrid model accurately describes cathode sheath evolution while differences on the anode side are attributed to assumptions about electron energy.