Numerical solution of Boltzmann's transport equation to predict characteristics of TEA CO2 lasers

Abstract

A theoretical model was used to simulate the plasma resistance of the discharge gap, discharge current and voltage in a TEA CO2 laser and their compares with experiment. The main discharge is considered as a time-dependent nonlinear RLC circuit. According to the present approach, for predicting the electron energy distribution function (EEDF) in a TEA CO2 laser, Boltzmann's transport equation is numerically solved. The obtained EEDF is used to calculate transport coefficients in order to predict the V-I parameters and to obtain the plasma resistance between the pair of electrodes during the gas discharge. A good quantitative agreement was obtained between modeled results and experimental data.