Abstract
One of the most important aspects of the glow discharge is the description of the cathode region. The cathode regions of N2 glow discharge have been investigated using a spectroscopic technique in the current range 2-7mA, in pressure range 5 to 60 Torr. These glow discharges have a constricted positive column, while voltage-current characteristics are negative.
The cathode region extending from the cathode surface to about 2mm under the present experimental condition can be separated into three regims of cathode fall, negative glow and Farady dark space.
For comparisons between the present constricted glow discharges in N2 and the diffused glow discharges in Ar, He and Ne at low pressures, the discharge luminescences are measured as functions of discharge current and gas pressure, and the axial distributions of rotational and vibrational temperatures are also estimated using the emission spectrum of the second positive bands of N2 radiated from the glow discharge.
As a results, it can be seen that the electric and luminous charactristics of the constricted glow discharge was very different to those of the diffused glow discharge and also the discharge produced in the vicinity of the cathode was heated up to the rotational temperature of 400-800K and the vibrational temperature of 800-60, 000K.
