Addition of Ar to Xe/Ne and Xe/He mixtures: radiation characteristics and discharge onset voltage for an application of plasma display technology

The influence of Ar addition to conventional Plasma Display Panel gases, Xe /Ne and Xe/He mixtures, on the radiation characteristics and the discharge onset voltage is studied using a Boltzmann equation method coupled with rat e equations for electrons and excited species. When Ar is added to Xe/Ne mi xtures, the efficiency of ultraviolet light radiation from Xe (1S(2,4)) and Xe-2* increases 7-17% for E / p(0) between 3 and 100 V cm(-1) Torr(-1). In Xe/He mixtures, the efficiency increases over 20% for E / p(0) < 10 V cm(- 1) Torr(-1) In addition, the visible light radiation of the 600 nm band fro m excited Ne, which makes the contrast worse, is effectively reduced. On th e other hand, the discharge onset voltage increases with Ar addition becaus e of a decrease in the effective secondary electron emission coefficient.