An Experimental and Theoretical Investigation of Optogalvanic Effects.

Abstract

Various laser diagnostics are used to study the cathode fall and negative glow regions of a He glow discharge with a cold Al cathode.The electric field and absolute metastable densities are mapped and the gas temperature is measured over a range of current densities from a near normal (173V) to a highly abnormal (600V) cathode fall. These measurements are analyzed to yield the current balance at the cathode surface, the ionization rate in the cathode fall region, and the metastable production rate in the cathode fall and negative glow regions. The experimental results compare favorably with the results of Monte Carlo simulations. The density and temperature of the low energy electron gas in the negative glow is determined by combining information from the experiments and Monte Carlo simulations.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 1987
Accession Number
ADA189618

Entities

People

  • J. E. Lawler

Organizations

  • University of Wisconsin Madison Department of Physics

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Atomic Properties
  • Atoms
  • Boltzmann Equation
  • Detection
  • Dye Lasers
  • Electric Fields
  • Electron Density
  • Electron Emission
  • Electron Gas
  • Electrons
  • Glow Discharges
  • Mean Free Path
  • Measurement
  • Pulsed Power
  • Radiation
  • Rydberg Atoms
  • Scattering

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Plasma Physics.
  • Statistical inference.

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy
  • Directed Energy - Lasers
  • Microelectronics