Transient analysis of bulk nitrogen glow discharge

The growth of the discharge current, reduced field (E/N), vibrational population, excited-state population, and nitrogen atom population in a nitrogen discharge is simulated using a self-consistent calculation of the electron distribution function and the vibrational population. The model developed includes diffusion losses to the wall and the external circuit parameters. The results discussed are for pressures of 1–100 Torr, discharge currents of a few amperes, and reduced field (E/N) in the range of 150–250 Td. A typical discharge in a tube of 2 cm diam at a current of 3.5 A requires a maintenance E/N of 65 Td at 10 Torr pressure, produces an electron density in the range of 0.5–1.0×1012 cm−3, and N2(A) density of 0.5–1.0×1014 cm−3.