A theory of the positive column constriction in the noble gas discharges at medium pressures

A theory explaining the positive column constriction in terms of a thermal effect is presented. As a consequence of the heating the neutral gas becomes more rarified near the tube axis and a locally increased molecular ion production ensues. If this is balanced by the dissociative (volume) recombination a constriction results at higher currents and pressures. The density profiles and other physical quantities are computed and compared with the available experimental data. All computations are performed for a non-Maxwellian plasma with the electron Coulomb interaction neglected. In contrast to the theories based on an ionization mechanism the thermal theory predicts also a constriction of the density profile.