Numerical modelling of Ar glow discharge at intermediate and high pressures

TL;DR

This paper develops a comprehensive collisional-radiative model for argon glow discharges at intermediate and high pressures, enabling detailed analysis of plasma properties and phenomena such as contraction and laser kinetics.

Contribution

It introduces a self-consistent model coupling electron kinetics with excited states and charged particles, including extensive electronic data for high-pressure argon plasmas.

Findings

Model accurately predicts species densities under various conditions

Provides detailed electronic data for argon states

Lays groundwork for analyzing high-pressure argon laser kinetics

Abstract

A detailed collisional-radiative model for Ar at intermediate and high pressures is developed. The model is coupled with the electron Boltzmann equation and includes several highly excited Ar states and charged particles. The densities of all neutral and charged species considered are calculated self-consistently. Detailed information concerning the electronic data used is presented. The model will be further used for analysing the contraction phenomena in noble gas discharges and eventually for theoretical description of the kinetic properties of high pressure Ar excimer laser.