Thermal mechanism for formation of electrical prepeak and pressure waves in a microsecond direct current pulsed glow discharge with a Grimm-type source: a modeling investigation

Abstract

A Monte-Carlo based model is developed for simulating the evolution of Ar concentration, temperature and flow in time and space. Potentially, the model could be used for gas simulations in a wide range of different applications. Here, the model is incorporated into an existing but modified model of a microsecond pulsed glow discharge (μs PGD) in a Grimm-type plasma excitation source. Results of the simulations reveal that a thermal mechanism is responsible for the formation of the electrical prepeak and pressure waves, two phenomena that take place at the leading edge of the μs pulse in this source.