Influence of the dissociation process of oxygen on the electron swarm parameters in oxygen

Previous theoretical studies assumed that the energy loss of a colliding electron has a discrete value for dissociative excitation of molecular oxygen. In the calculation of the rate coefficients for oxygen atom yields using the Boltzmann equation, the previous reports have used discrete energy loss values of 6.1 eV for A3Σ+u and 8.4 eV for B3Σ−u. In this paper, we take account of the fact that the excitation to B3Σ−u has a continuum energy loss spectrum and describe the effects on calculated swarm parameters that are important in the simulation of ozonizer discharges. It can be seen that the use of a continuum electron energy-loss spectrum as opposed to a discrete electron energy loss associated with excitation to the B3Σ−u state makes no significant difference in the calculated values of electron swarm parameters in oxygen. We also calculate the ozone yield as a function of E/N obtained from the analysis of the energy balance equation. In this case, the partial cross section for dissociation via B3Σ−u assuming a continuum electron energy-loss spectrum can have significant effects on the atomic oxygen yields at different E/N.