Physics and modeling of Plasma Display panels

We discuss physical phenomena which take place in an AC Plasma Display Panel (PDP) cell for matrix and coplanar electrode geometries. The effect of the gas mixture and the electrode geometry on the breakdown voltage is first analyzed using a fluid discharge model. We then compare solutions from simple fluid models and more accurate hybrid models for a 1D cell, and discuss the sensitivity of the models to the uncertainties on the charged particle transport coefficients. Finally we present typical results showing the space and time evolution of a discharge in AC matrix and coplanar cells.