10.1007/s11823-008-1008-y

Abstract

The stratification of a positive column of a low-pressure glow discharge in inert gases has been studied with the help of a self-consistent hybrid model. The model is based on the solution of a nonlocal kinetic Boltzmann equation for the electron distribution function, a nonstationary drift-diffusion equation for the ions, and the Poisson equation for the electric field. Spatial electron and ion density distributions and the electric field distribution in the positive column were obtained. The converged solution of the model gives a self-consistent resonant strata length L and the value and the form of the modulated plasma parameters. An unexpected surprising result was obtained: for a given potential drop in the positive column of a low-pressure glow discharge, a self-consistent spatially modulated striation-like electric field does not lead to the resonant increasing of the ionization frequencies in the discharge as compared with a constant electric field with the same potential drop. Usually, it was assumed that, in spatially modulated field distributions, all the parameters in a striated plasma will be more pronounced and have a resonant form.