NiederdruckGlühentladung

Niederdruckglühen is a German term that translates to low-pressure glow discharge. It refers to a physical process used in various industrial and scientific applications. In essence, it involves creating a plasma in a low-pressure environment. This plasma is typically generated by applying an electrical field to a gas. The gas molecules become ionized, forming a collection of charged particles (ions and electrons) and neutral particles.

The term "Niederdruckglühen" specifically points to the characteristic glow emitted by this plasma. This luminescence is a result of the excited atoms and molecules within the plasma releasing energy in the form of light as they return to their ground state. The pressure in the system is a critical factor, as it influences the mean free path of the particles and the characteristics of the plasma discharge.

Applications of Niederdruckglühen are diverse. It is widely employed in surface treatment processes, such as cleaning, etching, and deposition of thin films. For instance, in the semiconductor industry, it is used for plasma etching to precisely remove material from silicon wafers. In materials science, it can be used to modify the surface properties of materials, enhancing adhesion or wear resistance. Furthermore, Niederdruckglühen is utilized in lighting technologies, like fluorescent lamps, where a low-pressure gas is excited by an electrical discharge to produce ultraviolet light, which then excites a phosphor coating to emit visible light. Scientific research also leverages this phenomenon for plasma physics studies and as a source for various analytical techniques.