Simulation of the Processes of Formation and Dissociation of Neutral Particles in Air Plasma: Kinetics of Neutral Components

The results are given of calculations of the concentration of basic neutral particles and of the energy balance in an air plasma in the positive column of a d.c. discharge at pressures of $30$ to $300$ Pa and currents of $20$ to $110$ mA. The calculations are based on a combined solution of the Boltzmann equation; equations of vibrational kinetics for the ground states of molecules of $\text{N}_2$, $\text{O}_2$, and $\text{NO}$; and of the equations of chemical kinetics for these molecules, their excited states, and dissociation products. The results are compared with the measured concentrations of $\text{O}(^3P)$ atoms and $\text{NO}$ molecules and with the effective vibrational temperatures of $\text{N}_2(X^1\Sigma^+_g)$. The measured values of gas temperatures and temperatures of the reactor wall are used to find the fractions of energy transforming to heat in the plasma volume, which are compared with the calculation results.