Modelling an Ar-Hg fluorescent lamp plasma using a 3 electron-temperature approximation

By using a 3 electron-group model to describe the deviation from a Maxwelli an electron energy distribution, a collisional radiative model describing a low temperature Ar-Hg plasma is greatly improved. Previously, the ionisati on mechanisms of such plasmas, commonly used in fluorescent lamps, could no t be satisfactory modelled. Where using a Maxwellian electron energy distri bution showed the production of argon ions to be dominating over the produc tion of mercury ions, the 3 temperature approximation yields a mercury ioni zation rate which is 30 times larger than the argon ionization rate.