Simulation of a positive column discharge with a one-dimensional radial radiation transport coupled particle-in-cell model

A one-dimensional radial slice of an Ar positive column discharge is simulated with a radiation transport coupled particle-in-cell model. The discharge is maintained by an axial current in the positive column which induces a self-consistent axial electric field. Power balance and radiation efficiency are investigated for variations of axial driving current Iz, gas pressure p, and radius R. The parameter regimes are from 0.1 to 1 cm for radius, 1 mTorr to 20 Torr for gas pressure, from 4 to 14 eV for electron temperature, from 1015 to 1017 m−3 for peak plasma density, and from 0.15 to 50 mA for axial current. The radiation efficiency is related to the product of the pressure and the radius, pR; it is restricted by the large wall loss for small pR and by the collisional quenching of the radiative state for large pR. The optimal value is about pR=1 Torr cm for this parameter regime.

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