A two-dimensional multispecies fluid model of the plasma in an AC plasma display panel

A time dependent, two-dimensional model for simulating the plasma evolution in an AC plasma display panel (AC-PDP) is described. Reaction-convection (mobility)-diffusion equations for charged particles and excited heavy neutral species are solved along with Poisson's equation, a radiation transport equation, a surface charge buildup equation, and an external L-R-C circuit equation using a fully implicit numerical method. Electron-driven rate coefficients are computed with a 0-D Boltzmann solver in the local field approximation. For studying the particle dynamics in pure helium, we consider a reduced model in which radiation transport is ignored and the excited species manifold is collapsed to composite metastable and excited states. The model predictions of breakdown voltage are quite sensitive to the value of the secondary electron emission coefficient assumed and the uncertainties in the electron-driven reaction rates. An initial comparison between the model predictions and I-V measurements from a specially constructed helium-filled panel is made with qualitatively similar behavior. The lack of quantitative agreement can be explained by a combination of uncertainties in the model input data and uncertainty in the initial surface charge state in the experiments.<
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