Particle-in-cell simulations on a single gap gas discharge

In order to help understand the mechanisms of gas discharges at a low pressure and high voltage, simulations on the initial phase of a single gap gas discharge in the case of atomic hydrogen has been carried out, based on the models of the explosive electron emission and neutral gas ionization, by using the self-consistent, 2-1/2 dimensional particle-in-cell W MAGIC 2DT code. The motion patterns of the charged particles during the initial process of the gas discharge are obtained at a hydrogen pressure of 1.33×10^-2 Pa and an applied voltage of 10 kV. The profiles of phase space, the statistic histograms of velocities for the charged particles in the gap, the net charge density along the symmetrical axis direction, as well as the effects of applied voltage in the range of 10-40 kV and gas species (e.g. H₂, N₂ and Ar) on the characteristics of gas discharges are presented. Results also show that some simulations are in good accordance with existing experimental data.