PARAMETERS OF HIGH-PRESSURE RARE-GAS DISCHARGE

We theoretically analyze processes that occur in a gas-discharge plasm a of high-pressure rare gases (up to atm) resulting from pulsed energy deposition of about 10 J/cm(3) within a time of several nanoseconds. Based on the analysis of the experimental data on the drift velocity o f electrons and the ionization rate of atoms due to electron impact as functions of the specific voltage of the electric field presented in various papers, we calculate the rate constant for the excitation of r esonant atomic states by electron impact. The rate constant for the qu enching of these states by electron impact is calculated with the use of the exact quantum-mechanical expression under the assumption of nea r-threshold energy dependences of cross sections of the relevant inela stic processes. The rate constants of detail reverse processes thus ob tained are employed to determine the electron temperature at the initi al stage of the excitation pulse. The comparison of the results of cal culations with recent experimental data for discharges in argon and kr ypton indicates an anomalously high contribution of direct ionization to the kinetics of the formation of charged particles. The possibility of applying the discharge of the considered type for pumping pulsed l asers employing rare-gas dimers is discussed.