Vibrational level population of nitrogen impurities in low-pressure argon glow discharges

Abstract

The vibrational level populations of the electronic ground state of the nitrogen molecule have been calculated for typical glow discharge conditions in argon–nitrogen mixtures with nitrogen concentrations between 0.1 and 1%. Stationary solutions of the master equations of the vibrational levels have been obtained using numerical methods. The main mechanisms responsible for the population and depopulation of the vibrational levels, and for the overall shape of the vibrational distribution function are pointed out. It has been found that vibration–vibration collisions play only a minor role and therefore the population of the vibrational levels is basically determined by the electron temperature.