Calcul ~ Tions of the Time Dependent Bek

A computer code has been developed to describe the time dependent behavior of externally controlled diffuse discharges useful in various switching applications. The code is based on a set of rate equations which describe the densities of the dominant discharge species including the electron density and is used to calculate the discharge resistivity coupled to a circuit equation for the total discharge circuit. Previously Monte Carlo calculations for the electron energy distribution function were calculated parametrically with (E/N) to allow the calculation of the (E/N) dependence of the different rate constants, starting from a initial set of cross sections. The present code has been applied to two opening switch models first an electron beam controlled device and secondly to an optically controlled one. Using these models, the influence of various attachers, each with their own (E/N) -dependence of the attachment rate constant, on turn-on and turn-off can be investigated and their consequences for each switch case drawn.