Impact of Electron–Electron Collisions on the Spatial Electron Relaxation in Non-Isothermal Plasmas

Abstract

The impact of electron–electron collisions on the spatial relaxation of electrons in the column-anode plasma of a glow discharge, acted upon by a space-independent electric field and initiated by a constant influx at the cathode side of the plasma, is investigated in inert gas plasmas. The investigations are based on a new method for numerically solving the one-dimensional inhomogeneous Boltzmann equation of the electrons including electron–electron interaction in weakly ionized, collision-dominated plasmas. A detailed analysis of the spatial behaviour of the velocity distribution function and relevant macroscopic properties of the electrons is given for various degrees of ionization and electric field strengths. A significant impact of the electron–electron collisions on the relaxation structure and the resultant relaxation length already at relatively low ionization degrees has been found for low to medium electric fields.