Two-dimensional particle simulation of a sustained discharge in an alternating current plasma display panel

A plasma discharge due to a sustaining pulse of an alternating current plas ma display panel was analyzed using a two-dimensional particle-in-cell code , and basic characteristics of the plasma discharge were calculated. The ch aracteristics of the plasma discharge due to a sustaining pulse are as foll ows. (i) A large amount of space charge remained after drawing the discharg e current. This excess space charge did not contribute to wall charge forma tion or ultraviolet radiation. (ii) The electron energy distribution functi on was evaluated and could be well fitted by the Druyvesteyn distribution i n the high-energy region. The Druyvesteyn distribution was a consequence of the cross section for electron-Ne elastic scattering. (iii) The calculated ultraviolet radiation efficiency eta of the plasma discharge due to a sust aining pulse was between 5.51% and 30.7%. Examination of the sensitivity of the efficiency to the electron temperature showed that reducing the electr on temperature was a key to improving the efficiency. (iv) A detailed under standing of the conditions for a stable plasma discharge, memory margin, fi ring voltage, and electrode voltage of the sustaining pulse were obtained f rom the voltage transfer curve. The voltage transfer curve could be used to optimize the discharge cell design. (C) 2000 American Institute of Physics . [S0021-8979(00)04823-4].