Charge densities in the electrolyte cathode atmospheric glow discharges (ELCAD)

Abstract

In a normal and an abnormal ELCAD plasmas the density of electrons and positive ions were estimated from the earlier measured values of the cathodic current density, the cathode fall, the electric field, the length of cathode dark space, the kinetic energy, the last free path of positive ions hitting the cathode and the rate of secondary electron emission. In a normal ELCAD, the density of positive ions forming the space charge: n + ≈ 5.7 × 10 12 cm �3 , the density of positive ions hitting the cathode: n + ≈ 1.1 × 10 12 cm �3 , the electron density at the cathode: ne,c ≈ 3.7 × 10 11 cm �3 , the electron density at the end of cathode dark space: ne ≈ 5.7 × 10 12 cm �3 and the multiplication of electron in cathode dark space M ≈ 15.3 were obtained. In an abnormal case, n + ≈ 2.1 × 10 13 cm �3 , n + ≈ 4.3 × 10 12 cm �3 , ne,c ≈ 3.9 × 10 12 cm �3 , ne ≈ 2 × 10 13 cm �3 , M ≈ 5.17 were received.