Time-dependent characteristics of the dielectric barrier discharge in Xe-Cl₂ mixture and kinetics of the XeCl^∗ molecules

Abstract

Time-dependent characteristics of the dielectric barrier discharge in Xe-Cl₂ mixture at chlorine concentration of 0.5% and kinetic processes governing the generation of XeCl^∗ molecules are studied using the 1D fluid model. It is shown that at low voltage amplitude (5 kV) a one-peak mode of the discharge is observed and at high voltage amplitude (7 kV) a two-peak mode of the discharge appears. The radiation power of the XeCl^∗ band increases with amplitude of the supply voltage. It is demonstrated that the harpoon reaction Xe^∗ + Cl₂ → XeCl^∗ + Cl provides the greatest contribution into generation of XeCl^∗ exciplex molecules during short current pulses and the ion-ion recombination Xe⁺ ₂ + Cl^- → XeCl^* + Xe provides the greatest contribution during afterglow. Quenching of XeCl^∗ molecules is a result of the radiative decay XeCl^∗ → Xe + Cl + hv (308 nm). During current spike the great contribution into quenching of XeCl^∗ provides also the dissociative ionization e + XeCl^∗ → Xe⁺ + Cl + 2e.