The modelling of a discharge sustained by a standing surface wave

Abstract
Presents a model of a microwave discharge sustained by a standing surface wave. An experimental verification of the model is made by carrying out a discharge in argon gas. The model is based on the solution of an electron diffusion equation in a gas, assuming that electrons are the sole particles causing the ionisation of gas, disappearing on the walls of the discharge tube during the process of recombination. The calculated and experimentally determined values of the axial distribution of electron density, the intensities of electric and magnetic fields and the axial distribution of intensities of neutral and ion lines are compared. This comparison shows good agreement of the model with the experiment.