Electron transport parameters and excitation rates in argon

Abstract

A self-consistent set of electron impact cross-section and of excitation and ionisation rates was obtained for argon by making some adjustments in the experimental cross-section data available from the literature and requiring that calculated and measured electron transport quantities be in agreement. The calculations were made by numerically solving the Boltzmann transport equation. Values of the ratio of the electric field to the gas number density of interest in this work are in the range from 10 to 100 Td (Townsend). The resulting final set of cross-sections obtained here is not unique but represents one of the best possible combinations which can be sought for on the basis of presently available data. Therefore, the present results are relevant for the modelling of discharges in argon and in various visible and UV laser mixtures containing high concentrations of argon atoms.