MODELING OF LOW-PRESSURE GAS DISCHARGES

In the first part of this paper, the ionization-balance and excitation-balance equations for low-pressure self-sustained rare-gas dis-charges are used to derive the scaling relationship that E is a constant for a constant I P3R2product. Comparison with experiment shows that this is a fair to good approximation for argon, neon, and helium dis-charges over a wide range of conditions. In the second part, the inclusion of two electron energy-conservation equations, based on the Vriens two-temperature model for the electron-energy distribu Lion function, provides a simple and accurate method of predicting discharge parameters from first principles. Predicted values of E/P and excited-state density as a function of electron density and current in helium show very good agreement with experiment. Copyright © 1979 by The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.