Role played by the N2(A 3Σu+) metastable in stationary N2 and N2-O2 discharges

Abstract

The role played by the N2(A 3Σu+) metastable on the overall kinetics of N2 and N2-O2 stationary discharges is illustrated by using a kinetic model based on the self-consistent solutions to the Boltzmann equation coupled to the rate balance equations for the vibrationally and electronically excited molecules, atoms and charged particles, in which the sustaining electric field is self-consistently determined. It is shown that together with the vibrational distribution of N2(X 1 Σg+, v) molecules, the metastable state N2(A ,3 Σu+) plays a central role in the whole problem, since some important aspects of these discharges, such as ionization, gas phase chemistry and gas heating are associated with different processes involving the N2(A 3Σu+) state.