Properties of the positive column of a glow discharge in flowing hydrogen

Abstract
Results of a theoretical model for predicting the effects of gas flow on the properties of the positive column in a glow discharge are presented. A cylindrical discharge at low pressure (≤ 30 torr) in a hydrogen flow is considered. The two-dimensional model couples electric and molecular properties of the discharge through E/N, the ratio of electric field to neutral gas density. It predicts the electric field and the discharge voltage as a function of pressure, flow velocity, diameter and length of the discharge and current. Molar flow rates of vibrationally excited H2 molecules and H atoms produced by the discharge are calculated. Comparison with available experimental data is made