Analytical model for low-pressure gas discharges: application to the Hg + Ar discharge.
A general technique for analyzing complicated gas discharges has been developed and applied to the Hg + Ar (fluorescent lamp) discharge. The theoretical model includes electron excitation and deexcitation, two-state ionization through a saturated metastable level, and proper treatment of the self-absorption of the resonance radiation. The analysis yields simple analytic expressions for the electron temperature, the resonance radiation, and the electric field. When applied to Hg + Ar discharges, these analytic expressions yield good quantitative agreement with the available absolute data on the dependence of the electron temperature, the Hg 2537-A radiation, and the electric field on mercury pressure and current.
Lama
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Xerox Corporation, Rochester, New York 14644, USA.
Gallo
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CF
Hammond
T J
TJ
Walsh
P J
PJ