Non-Uniform Axial Electric Field in Argon Glow DischargePlasma

Abstract

The non-uniform argon dc glow discharge plasma system has beenconstructed in a very special design to investigate the effects ofvariable tube radius on plasma parameters. By using isolatedcomputer controlled three couples of a double probe (TCDP) system, theelectron temperature, electron density, the reduced electric field,and electron drift velocity are measured at low and intermediatepressures. It is shown that the electron temperature and reducedelectric field (density) decreases (increases) as the radiusdecreases, at low discharge current and pressures. For large radiusregions, at high discharge currents and pressures, the behaviour ofthe plasma parameters of specially reduced electric fieldchange similarly to those in a uniform discharge system.