Laser optogalvanic and fluorescence studies of the cathode region of a glow discharge

Journal Article · Thu Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1988 · Phys. Rev. A; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.38.2471· OSTI ID:7123692

Den Hartog, E A; Doughty, D A; Lawler, J E

Various laser diagnostics are used to study the cathode-fall and negative-glow regions of a He glow discharge with a cold Al cathode. The electric field and absolute metastable densities are mapped and the gas temperature is measured over a range of current densities from a near-normal (173 V) to a highly abnormal (600 V) cathode fall. These measurements are analyzed to yield the current balance at the cathode surface, the ionization rate in the cathode-fall region, and the metastable production rate in the cathode-fall and negative-glow regions. The experimental results compare favorably with the results of Monte Carlo simulations. The density and temperature of the low-energy electron gas in the negative glow is determined by combining information from the experiments and Monte Carlo simulations.

• Research Organization: Department of Physics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706
• OSTI ID: 7123692
• Journal Information: Phys. Rev. A; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Rev. A; (United States) Vol. 38:5; ISSN PLRAA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700102* -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Diagnostics
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
CURRENT DENSITY
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
ELEMENTS
ENERGY LEVELS
EXCITED STATES
FLUIDS
FLUORESCENCE
GASES
GLOW DISCHARGES
HELIUM
LASERS
LUMINESCENCE
METASTABLE STATES
MONTE CARLO METHOD
NONMETALS
PLASMA DIAGNOSTICS
PROBES
RARE GASES