Measurements and analysis of excitation coefficients and secondary electron yields in Townsend dark discharges

Abstract

In this paper, we review our study of excitation coefficients in rare gases and in methane, some of the excitation cross sections that were obtained, the spatial profiles of emission (with absolute calibration) and secondary electron yields. The data for excitation coefficients have been analysed to produce the cross section data in some cases. The spatial profiles of emission at the low currents were used to establish the importance of the non-hydrodynamic relaxation and the contributions of heavy particles and reflected electrons. These data were also used to get more reliable secondary electron yields for rare gases. The spatial emission profiles at higher currents have been applied to obtain field profiles and make comparisons with hybrid models. In particular, we present in this paper, the emission coefficients in krypton and we discuss the wide range of interconnected applications of excitation coefficients and spatial emission profiles.