Positive low-pressure discharge column in a ternary system of mercury with neon and argon
Abstract
An analysis is presented of a positive discharge column in an Hg-Ne-Ar mixture at low pressures (Hg pressure = 0.01 to 0.0001 torr; Ne pressure is not less than 1 torr; and Ar pressure is not greater than 3 torr) and relatively small discharge currents (50-1000 mA), with allowance for the deviation of the electron energy distribution from the Maxwellian distribution. The basic plasma equations are solved, and expressions are obtained for the internal parameters of the positive column (the strength of the longitudinal electric field and the density and mean energy of electrons) through the external parameters (the discharge current, the radius of the tube, and the gas pressure). Theoretical results agree well with experimental data.
- Publication:
-
Zhurnal Tekhnicheskoi Fiziki
- Pub Date:
- August 1981
- Bibcode:
- 1981ZhTFi..51.1612K
- Keywords:
-
- Argon Plasma;
- Gas Discharges;
- Mercury Arcs;
- Neon;
- Plasma Jets;
- Rarefied Plasmas;
- Atomic Excitations;
- Electric Field Strength;
- Electron Distribution;
- Electron Energy;
- Gas Ionization;
- Metallic Plasmas;
- Plasma Composition;
- Plasma Currents;
- Plasma Physics