Influence of a background gas on expanding plasma clots

An expansion of finite plasma clots into the background neutral gas is studied numerically. The presented model includes the quasineutrality violation as well as the interpenetration of plasma and neutral gas at the boundary of the plasma. We estimate the region of plasma parameters where the model is correct. Space distributions of main plasma parameters, cooling of electrons and the process of inter-penetration of the plasma and the neutral gas are analysed as well as an empiric formula for electron temperature is found. Finally, it is shown that the most intensive plasma-gas inter-penetration occurs in the case where the initial plasma and gas densities are the same.