A SIMPLIFIED HYDROKINETIC MODEL FOR A STEADY-STATE MICROWAVE-DISCHARGE SUSTAINED BY TRAVELING WAVES AT ATMOSPHERIC-PRESSURE CONDITIONS

The properties of a microwave-induced argon plasma produced by traveli ng surface wave at atmospheric pressure are investigated theoretically . A hydrokinetic model is elaborated to obtain the nonequilibrium one- dimensional profiles of electron temperature T-e (average electron ene rgy), electron density n(e), and the first excited state population de nsity n(4s), along the axis of a steady-state discharge. A three-level atomic structure is assumed for the argon atom. A particle balance is included through the continuity equations for n(e) and n(4s). These e quations are coupled with an energy balance equation for the electrons . The effects of different parameters on the properties of the argon d ischarge are investigated: discharge tube radius, gas flow rate, reson ant radiation-escape factor, and neutral gas temperature. (C) 1995 Ame rican Institute of Physics.