Energy balance in a nonequilibrium weakly ionized nitrogen discharge

Abstract

The time evolution of the energy balance in a nitrogen discharge during its early phases of development is simulated using a self-consistent calculation of the electron distribution function (EDF), the vibrational population (VP), and densities of some electronically excited states. The contribution of the V–T (vibration-to-translation), and V–V (vibration-to-vibration) energy exchanges is quantitatively analyzed. The contribution to the energy balance by self-quenching reactions of the N2(A3Σ+u) state is also analyzed. It is shown that the population of this state in a discharge and its contribution to the energy balance may be significant.