Electron energy distribution functions and vibrational population densities of excited electronic states in DC discharges through nitrogen

Abstract

An augmented collisional-radiative model which includes the vibrational kinetics of excited electronic states of nitrogen is presented. The Boltzmann transport equation which includes vibrational and electronic superelastic collisions is solved, coupled to a system of vibrational master equations with eight excited electronic states. The model explains satisfactorily the trends of vibrational distributions of several excited electronic states observed under non-equilibrium conditions. The results also show that energy pooling reactions can play an important role in determining the vibrational distributions of A3 Sigma u+, B3 Pi g, and C3 Pi u.