Step photoionization as a mechanism responsible for the Raether paradox

Autor: I A Kossyi, V P Silakov
Rok vydání: 2005
Předmět:
Zdroj: Plasma Sources Science and Technology. 14:594-598
ISSN: 1361-6595
0963-0252
Popis: An attempt is made to explain the phenomenon known as a 'Raether paradox' which consists of the abnormally deep penetration of ionization-causing radiation from a localized gas discharge into the surrounding high-pressure gas. Based on a theory worked out (by the example of the interaction of equilibrium radiation with molecular nitrogen), it is shown that a model accounting for the step ionization of metastables offers a plausible explanation of the deep-penetration effect. The model implies that the gas molecules (or atoms) can exist in excited electronic states that are stable against different de-excitation processes (for N2 this state is ). The long-lived level can be populated primarily through upper levels that are more efficiently excited by radiation in deeper gas layers.
Databáze: OpenAIRE