Gaussian basis functions in kinetic theory: I. Incorporation of inelastic processes

Abstract

The dependence of the distribution functions for a gas mixture on the translational degrees of freedom is treated by means of superpositions of Gaussian distributions. The internal degrees of freedom of the gas molecules are taken into account by a Laplace transformation. After the general representation of the nonlinear collision operator an application is given, concerned with a simple version of drift-tube theory, i.e., the theory of a trace amount of ions moving in a neutral buffer gas under the influence of a strong homogeneous electric field.