Electron acceleration and excitation processes in the vicinity of a mercury discharge constriction

In the present paper axial distributions of plasma and floating potentials, electron and ion densities and EEDF have been measured in the DL region of a Hg discharge constriction. An attempt has been made for the resolution of opposing charged layer structures in DL. Excitation processes in the constriction region are studied. Using the linearization method for the nonstationary balance equations system and choosing appropriate discharge conditions, the step excitation rate by the electron impact for 6(3)P(2) -> 7(1)S(0) transition in Hg is determined.