Electron excitation rates and transport parameters in direct-current N₂discharges

The electron transport parameters and excitation rate coefficients for individual N2(X, v-Y, v') transitions (Y denoting an excited electronic state) were calculated for typical operating conditions of a stationary N2 discharge at low pressures (0.1<or=p<or=2 Torr) and moderate currents (0.5<or=l<or=50 mA) taking into account the coupling between the electron energy distribution function (EDF) and the vibrational distribution function (VDF) of N2(X) molecules. The coupled EDF and VDF were self-consistently calculated by solving simultaneously the Boltzmann equation and the system of rate balance equations for the vibrational levels including e-V, V-V and V-T energy exchange processes. The calculations are based on a complete set of electron cross sections for the transitions X v-Y, v' generated from a consistent set of cross sections for excitation of the entire states Y from X, v=0 using the Franck-Condon approximation.