Radial Distribution of Plasma Concentration in a Positive Glow Discharge Column with Dust Particles

Russian Physics Journal - The work considers the influence of dust structures on the positive column of a glow discharge. A formula describing the radial distribution of ions in the case of an...     

On Electron Concentration Distribution along the Radius of the Positive Column of a Glow Discharge in Electronegative Gases

It is shown in this paper that the form of the electron concentration distribution along the radius of the positive column in an oxygen discharge depends on the relative concentration of negative ions α = n_-/n_e in the plasma. It is found that in discharges in electronegative gases everywhere along the radius of the positive column, where α > 10, the electron concentration is equal to its value on the tube axis (plane electron distribution along the radius of the positive column). It is shown that an increase of the discharge current leads to the decrease of α and to the change of the distribution of profile n_e from plane to parabolic. However, weak laminar oxygen pumping along the positive column leads to more plane an electron concentration distribution because an increase of the negative ions concentration takes place. It is induced by the decrease of oxygen atoms density on account of their carrying out by the flow.     

Negative Ions,Ozone, and Metastable Components in dc Oxygen Glow Discharge

In a dc glow discharge in oxygen, the concentrations of minor components of O₂(a¹Δ_g), O₂(b¹ Σ_g), O₃, O(¹D), as well as nagative ions and electrons have been measured. Balance equations have been derived which describe satisfactorily the stationary concentrations of these components as functions of gas pressure and discharge current. For the first time, the rate constants of important aeronomical reactions (a) O^? + O₂(a¹Δ_g) → O₃ + e, (b) O₂^? + O₂(a¹Δ_g) → 2O₂ + e and (c) e + O₃ → O₂^? +O have been measured as functions of gas temperature T and mean energies of ions E_i and electron E₆: K_a = (2.5 ± 0.5) · 10^?9 · (T/300)^{4 ± 0.4}· (E_i/0.04)^{?2.6 ± 0.4} cm³/s for T = 385?605 K and E_i = 0.10 ? 0.66 eV; K_b = (1.0 ± 0.3) · 10^?10 · (T/300)^{?2 ± 0.5} · (E_i/0.04)^{0.23 ± 0.05} cm³/s for T = 330?605 K and E_i = 0.09 + 1.5 eV; K_c for E_e = 0.8÷5 eV.     

The Measurement of Current Column Plasma Parameters in the Glow Discharge at Increased Pressure

Results of the probe and thermocouple measurements of the constricted stationary glow dis charge in nitrogen and air at pressures up to 60 Torr are given. It was shown that the main energy processes in the column are the heating of the gas and its vibrational excitation. The balance of charged particles is determined by the electron-ion recombination and the stepwise ionization through metastable levels of nitrogen molecules. The results obtained can be used in the numerical simulation of a moving filament during the current constriction in the glow discharge.     

Investigations about the Influence of the External Circuit Elements on the Propagation of Ionization Waves in the Positive Column of a Neon Glow Discharge

Our investigations have been motivated by former works of Michel and Achterberg [1]. They described the important influence of the external circuit elements and connected therewith the mechanism of feedback (Barkhausen k · v ≧ 1). The properties of external and self-excited moving striations (threshold current, fundamental frequency) are strongly influenced by the feedback. This paper demonstrates the differences occuring either a voltage or a current source in the external circuit is used in order to perturb the discharge and to realize different degrees of feedback by changing the external resistor R_ext. of the discharge. It is shown the impact on the fields of existence of self excited striations in a non driven discharge. Furthermore our investigations yield differences in the width of Arnol'd tongues [2] of periods one and two in the perturbed discharge depending on a varied degree of feedback. Last not least its influence on the behaviour of quasiperiodic and chaotic states is demonstrated. The investigations permit first information concerning the sensivitity of one parameter variation (feedback controll by external resistor) which might be used e.g. for a stabilization of unstable periodic orbits (controlling chaos).     

Glow Discharge with an Extended Hollow Cathode

Russian Physics Journal - A low-voltage low-pressure glow discharge with a hollow cathode is discussed. The discharge is ignited in a reflective discharge system with two symmetric peripheral...     

The Spatial and Temporal Evolution of the Glow in an RF Discharge

The temporal and spatial evolution of the glow in a 1.0- and 2.6-MHz radio-frequency (RF) excited discharge has been photographed with a high-speed framing camera. Evidence is presented showing electrons with a ballistic behavior in the body of the glow and a time delay between the maximum optical intensity of the glow and the maximum RF voltage. The effect of the dc self-bias on the glow is also shown. The implications of these observations on the dynamics of the ion motion in the plasma are discussed.     

Submillimeter-Wave Spectroscopy of HNC Produced in an Extended Negative Glow Discharge

Submillimeter-wave transitions of HNC are observed in an extended negative glow discharge. The measurements of the rotational lines in the ground state, as well as in the vibrational fundamentals, are extended to higher J values (up to J=9←8 in the 830-GHz region). The lines in the higher vibrational excited states ν₂+ν₃, 2ν₂, and 2ν₂+ν₃ are also observed and assigned, using the frequency-magnetic field double modulation technique. Dramatic enhancement of the signal intensity strongly suggests that HNC is predominantly produced in the extended negative glow discharge through the dissociative recombination of HCNH⁺ with electrons.     

Self-Consistent Model of a Positive Column in an Inert Gas Discharge at Low Pressures and Small Currents

A formalism of the self-consistent solution of the kinetic equation and the field equation is described for the positive plasma column in an inert gas discharge. The model considers the presence of electrons trapped in the potential well transfering the discharge current and of free electrons which reach the walls in a free diffusion regime supporting the required ionization level in the discharge. The calculations have been carried out for neon. In the model application range the comparison is made with experimental data of axial fields, wall potentials, wall currents and in some cases with distribution functions. A good correspondence takes place.     

Spectroscopic Investigation of the Separation of A Glow Discharge in an Argon-neon Mixture

The passage of a steady state electric current in a mixture of binary gases between apair of metal electrodes has been found to result in an enrichment of the minority constituent gas near the cathode and the majority gas in the vicinity of the anode (1–7). The study of the separation of the mixture of binary gases under the influence of a discharge current is important for practical applications in gas lasers and for obtaining very pure gas samples. Although extensive studies have been reported in various gas mixtures it seems relatively few have been made in argonneon^(2,3,5) and these were restricted to either low gas pressures or low discharge currents. In the present contri-bution a preliminary study of the cataphoresis separation is reported in a low proportion of argon in neon using spectro-scopic techniques.     

On the Anomaly of the Electrical Field Strength in the Magnetized Positive Column of Glow Discharges at Small Currents

The axial electrical field strength in the positive column of glow discharges at small currents in noble gases passes through a maximum with the increase of an axially directed magnetic field. This maximum is explained of the contrary processes of extension of the radial profiles of the electron energy and the concentration of the metastable atoms on the one hand and the decrease of the ambipolar diffusion losses on the other hand. Using the results of measurements of metastable atom concentrations, the electrical field strength is calculated as a function of magnetical induction with the aid of a set of balance equations. The radial and axial distribution of the electrons is checked by probe measurements. The methods for measuring the concentration of the excited atoms and the electrons are described.     

Ambipolar Diffusion in Direct-Current Positive Column with Variations in Radius of Discharge Tube

The ambipolar diffusion and argon ion mobility as functions of the reduced electric field and pressure times the tube radius are investigated in a weakly ionized non-uniform glow discharge plasma system. In particular, the variable cross section at the same discharge tube on the ambipolar diffusion coefficient shows a more noticeable effect than the effects from the ion mobility. As the diffusion length A increases, the ambipolar diffusion Da increases. However, it decreases as the discharge current is increased.     

Gas Density Distributions and Reduced Field Strenghts of the Positive Column of Low Pressure XeCl* Glow Discharges

Interferometric measurements of radial gas density distributions have been performed on the cylindrical positive column of DC low pressure glow discharges (LPGD) in pure Xe and Xe/Cl₂ gas mixtures. Absolute gas temperatures have been measured by thermocouples. In the mixtures, the gas temperature is several hundred Kelvin above the temperature in pure Xe. Additionally, the radial distribution of the gas density in the mixtures cannot be described by Bessel profiles, which would result from Schottky's diffusion theory. Combined with field strength measurements, radial profiles of E/N (electric field strength/neutral density) have been determined. Results of this work will be useful for model developments of LPGD in rare-gas/Cl₂ mixtures but also for the general understanding of the positive column in attaching gases.     

Investigations on Plasma Assisted Surface Cleaning of Aluminum in an Oxygen Glow Discharge

Aluminum plates which are contaminated with hydrocarbon containing compounds (oil, grease) were treated in an Ar-, O₂- and Ar/O₂-plasma generated by a dc-discharge. Besides a variation of the macroscopic discharge parameters (power, pressure) also different modes (anomalous glow regime, hollow cathode regime) have been studied. In most cases the contaminated substrates served as cathodes of an anomalous glow discharge where the combined influence of chemically reactive radicals and energetic ions was very effective. During the plasma process the discharge was monitored by means of power variation and optical emission spectroscopy. The spectral line intensities of several species (etchants and products) have been measured as functions of the process duration. Simultaneously the removal of the contamination layers was observed by means of in-situ ellipsometry. The temporal change of the ellipsometric parameters ψ and δ during the cleaning process was taken as a measure for the state of the surface. The combination of spectroscopic and ellipsometric measurements which indicate the progress of the plasma treatment gave interesting results on the mechanisms at the surface. In addition, surface analysis was used to assess the quality of the substrates treated.     

Negative Ions in a Glow Discharge of Tetrafluoromethane

The Langmuir — probe measurements in a CF₄ — glow discharge reveal a large number of negative ions (10¹⁰ cm^?3) in the plasma between the planar C-electrodes. Under special conditions the density of them exceeds the electron density at several orders of magnitude and sustains a quasi — electron free plasma. The ratio depends on the residence time of the molecular gas in the discharge reactor. It is due to dissociative electron attachment to highly molecular gas components arising from the plasmachemical conversion of CF₄. F^? and CF₃^? are the most important negative ions.     

Atmospheric Pressure DC Glow Discharge in Semiconductor Gas Discharge Electronic Devices

The stabilization of dc glow discharges in a dc plasma is studied experimentally in air and neon media functions of pressure $p$, interelectrode distances $d$, and diameter $D$ of the cathode areas in the semiconductor gas discharge electronic devices (SGDED) with GaAs cathode. Comparision of current and discharge light emission (DLE) from SGDED are used for the determination of the stabilization under low- and atmospheric-pressure glow microdischarge conditions. It is found that uniform DLE can be generated in Ne up to atmosphere pressure different from the case in air under specific conditions. Apart from the homegeneous results, nonhomogeneous current–voltage characteristic forms are also observed for some parameter sets. The experimental results reveal different discharge behaviors in both gas media at atmospheric pressure.