Xe–Ne–HCl excimer lamp excited by a phototriggered discharge

We have used a one-dimensional model of the cathode sheath with an external circuit coupled to a kinetics model of the plasma. With a very high potential and a very high pressure, multiplication of the initial electrons due to ionization during their transits towards the anode causes much positive space charge which distorts the distribution of the electric field. The ions thus created in the volume by the initial electrons turn towards the cathode, causing the emission of secondary electrons and consequently producing more avalanches. Breakdown is primarily due to successive avalanches of the electrons of the cathode which are propagated in the sheath with a high field. Plasma is thus formed; ionization is mainly due to the electron impact but is also due to accumulation of the metastable species in the gap. The growth of the excited-state Xe* is caused by the electron impact of the xenon atoms and NeXe+ ions.