A numerical study of process kinetics in the plasma of a self-maintained space discharge in a mixture of CO2 and He

A model of process kinetics in the plasma of a self-maintained space discharge in CO2 is developed which allows for stepped ionization through the electron-excited level 3Sigma(+)u of CO2 and the recombination of the negative ion CO3(-) with the cluster ions C2O4(+) and CO2(+). The results based on this model provide an adequate description of the time dependence of electron density in a self-maintained discharge in a mixture of CO2 and He. The effect of stepped ionization and ion-ion recombination of negative and positive CO2 ions on the electron balance in a self-maintained discharge is examined with reference to results based on a specific experiment.