Discharge efficiency in high-Xe-content plasma display panels

We study theoretically the overall output performance and the dominating reaction processes of the vacuum ultraviolet (UV) radiation production in high-Xe partial pressures in plasma display panels (PDPs) with Ne-Xe gas mixtures. A two-dimensional self-consistent fluid model is applied for the simulations of discharges and UV radiation in sustaining phases of PDPs. The UV intensity increases with the Xe partial pressure (P-Xe). The discharge efficiency also increases with P-Xe. The resonant radiation from Xe(P-3(1)) dominates for 3.5%, while that from Xe-2((3)Sigma(u)(+)) becomes dominant over Xe(P-3(1)) for 10%-30%. Remarkably for 30%, the intensity from Xe-2((1)Sigma(u)(+)) is even larger than that from Xe(P-3(1)). It is found that for higher P-Xe, the UV radiation mainly consists of the excimer radiation from Xe-2((1)Sigma(u)(+)) and Xe-2((3)Sigma(u)(+)). Here, Xe(P-3(1)) does not play a role itself as the UV radiator of the resonant radiation (147 nm), but as the precursor to Xe-2((1)Sigma(u)(+)), which results in the excimer radiation (173 nm). (C) 2004 American Institute of Physics