Self-consistent Monte Carlo simulation of particle motion and photon transport in the Argon positive column

A highly accurate self-consistent Monte Carlo method including charged and neutral particle motion and resonance photon transport is developed and applied to the simulation of the positive column of Argon discharge. The distribution of power loss across the tube is investigated. It is shown that negative slope of the current-voltage gradient curve can not be explained by only one factor. Diffusion of metastable atoms to the tube wall in the case of low current (0.2-3 mA) is responsible for the most part of negative slope. For the high currents the variation of radiation power loss makes a main contribution to the amplitude of the negative slope.