Study of the Dark Phase in the Initial Stage of the Positive Column Formation in an Argon Glow Discharge

Journal Article · Sat Oct 15 04:00:00 EDT 2005 · Plasma Physics Reports

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1134/1.2101975· OSTI ID:20718276

Dyatko, N A; Napartovich, A P ^[1]; Ionikh, Yu Z; Meshchanov, A V ^[2]

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1. Troitsk Institute for Innovation and Thermonuclear Research, Troitsk, Moscow oblast, 142090 (Russian Federation)
2. Fock Research Institute of Physics, St. Petersburg State University, Ul'yanovskaya ul. 1, Petrodvorets, St. Petersburg, 198504 (Russian Federation)

The initial stage of the positive column formation in an argon glow discharge is investigated both experimentally and theoretically. A decrease in the plasma radiation intensity (the so-called 'dark phase') was observed experimentally over a time period of about 1 ms. A similar dip was also observed in the time dependence of the electric field strength. The time evolution of the population of the lowest metastable state of Ar was measured. A relevant theoretical model has been developed and used to perform calculations for the actual experimental conditions. A comparison between the numerical and experimental results shows that the model adequately describes the processes that occur during the formation of the positive column in an argon glow discharge. Experimental and theoretical study shows that the dark-phase effect is related to an excessive amount of metastable Ar atoms at the beginning of a discharge and, consequently, to high rates of stepwise ionization and chemionization.

• OSTI ID: 20718276
• Journal Information: Plasma Physics Reports, Journal Name: Plasma Physics Reports Journal Issue: 10 Vol. 31; ISSN PPHREM; ISSN 1063-780X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
ARGON
ATOMS
COLLISIONS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
ELECTRIC FIELDS
EVOLUTION
GLOW DISCHARGES
IONIZATION
METASTABLE STATES
PLASMA
POSITIVE COLUMN
TIME DEPENDENCE