Investigation of Kinetics of Fast Electrons and Parameters of Negative-Glow Plasma in a Low-Pressure Glow Discharge in Helium

Abstract: Results of numerical investigation of kinetics of fast electrons and parameters of negative-glow plasma in low-pressure glow discharge in helium are presented. It is demonstrated that electron temperature in the negative-glow region is low and equals to a few tenths of an electronvolt. Numerical simulation revealed the formation of narrow peaks in the electron distribution function and the dependence of the differential flux on energy that are related to fast electrons formed in the reactions of Penning ionization. The results of numerical simulation are corroborated by the results of probe diagnostics of plasma. The possibility of determining concentration of excited helium atoms in negative-glow plasma by detection of fast electrons created as a result of reactions of Penning ionization is demonstrated.