Electron Boltzmann equation in nonthermal plasmas
Abstract
Numerical and analytical solutions of the electron Boltzmann equation in two-temperature steady-state helium plasma are studied in a broad range of conditions (5000 K<=Ta<=20 000 K, 10 000 K<=Te<=20 000 K; 1010 cm-3<=Na<=1018 cm-3). The WKB analytical solution is found to be satisfactory in most situations. The deviation of the electron distribution from Maxwellian and a possibility of raising of the tail of the distribution is also discussed.
- Publication:
-
Physical Review A
- Pub Date:
- April 1991
- DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevA.43.4409
- Bibcode:
- 1991PhRvA..43.4409K
- Keywords:
-
- Boltzmann Transport Equation;
- Electron Energy;
- Electron Scattering;
- Helium Plasma;
- Plasma Temperature;
- Plasma-Particle Interactions;
- Ionization Cross Sections;
- Particle Collisions;
- Penning Effect;
- Photoionization;
- Radiative Recombination;
- Wentzel-Kramer-Brillouin Method;
- Plasma Physics;
- 52.20.Fs;
- 52.25.Dg;
- 52.25.Fi;
- 52.80.Hc;
- Electron collisions;
- Plasma kinetic equations;
- Transport properties;
- Glow;
- corona