Theory of Optogalvanic Signals Originating from Metastable States in Hollow Cathode Neon Discharges

Abstract A previous theoretical model is enlarged to elucidate some features of the optogalvanic signals originating from the metastable states in hollow cathode neon discharges. Numerical experiments were performed on the basis of this model to obtain the time evolution of the optogalvanic signals in pulsed and chopped cw experiments at 588.2 nm for different discharge currents and different laser intensities. The predictions of the numerical experiments were found to be in qualitative agreement with real experimental results.