| Issue |
Europhys. Lett.
Volume 74, Number 3, May 2006
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Page(s) | 431 - 437 | |
| Section | Physics of gases, plasmas and electric discharges | |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1209/epl/i2005-10542-y | |
| Published online | 22 March 2006 | |
Why does a low-pressure wire-discharge exist self-sustained?
1
SOPRA SA - 26 rue Pierre Joigneaux, 92270 Bois-Colombes, France
2
LPGP, Université Paris XI - 91405 Orsay, France
3
IHCE - 4 ave. Akademicheski, 650055, Tomsk, Russia
Corresponding author: maxime.makarov@renault.com
Received:
30
December
2005
Accepted:
28
February
2006
Numerical study of a self-sustained low-pressure (6.8
or 50
) wire discharge in helium is reported. The current-independent voltage drop
across the cathode sheath is found to be of ~250
. The other part of the discharge voltage is essentially applied across the anode sheath. It
drains electrons from the quasi-neutral plasma and thus presents a necessary condition for discharge maintenance. Two major groups of electrons have
been distinguished: the fast electrons of ~(24–250)
, as well as a very small fraction of hot (run-away) electrons with the energy
close to the discharge voltage, are responsible for gas ionization throughout negative glow while the thermalized electrons of ~1's eV
are easily captured by the anode and so removed from the discharge.
PACS: 52.80.Hc – Glow; corona / 52.65.Pp – Monte Carlo methods / 52.65.Rr – Particle-in-cell method
© EDP Sciences, 2006
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