Resonance radiation transport in plasma display panels

In fluid models of the gas discharges in plasma display panels, the trappin g of resonance radiation is usually accounted for by a trapping factor. In this work, we present a Monte Carlo model for resonance photons, which give s a much more accurate description. First, we compare the results of this M onte Carlo model with the results of the fluid model trapping factor approa ch. Although the trapping factor approach does not yield the same spatial d istribution for the density of the resonant state atoms, the spatially inte grated density is in good agreement with the results of the Monte Carlo mod el. Next, we compare the results of the Monte Carlo model with measured spe ctra of emitted resonance radiation. The agreement is very good. Thus we pr ovide, via the Monte Carlo model, experimental support for the widely used trapping factor approach. (C) 2000 American Institute of Physics. [S0021-89 79(00)06723-2].