IONIZATION WAVES IN THE MEDIUM PRESSURE HELIUM AND NEON PLASMA

EMIL BARNA^a, VANIA COVLEA^a, COSTEL BILOIU^a, MARIAN BAZAVAN^a and CATALIN MIHAI TICOS^b

^aFaculty of Physics, University of Bucharest, P.O.BOX MG-11, Bucharest, Rumania
^bInstitut of Atomic Physics, Lasers Department, P.O.BOX MG-36, Bucharest, Rumania

Received 21 October 1996
Revised manuscript received 8 April 1997

We present the experimental results obtained on the ionisation waves in the helium and neon plasmas, within the pressure range of 200 Pa to 2000 Pa (133 Pa = 1 Torr), and for discharge electric currents of 5 mA to 35 mA. The main characteristics of the ionization waves in the medium presure neon and helium discharge are a small amplitude and a high frequency. The amplitude of the waves is smaller than 1 V. In the case of the neon plasma, the frequency varies between approximately 700 Hz and 2250 Hz and increases with the discharge current. In the helium plasma, the frequency is in the range between approximately 1500 Hz and 4000 Hz and decreases with the discharge electric current.

UDC 531.742
PACS 52.35.Fp

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