Negative electron mobility under condition of the resonant optical excitation in gas mixtures

Abstract

The negative electron mobility (NEM) effect has been analyzed in gas mixtures consisting of heavy inert gas (Ar, Kr or Xe), molecular nitrogen and lithium vapor. The mixture parameters, which are optimal for NEM observation, have been determined by using an analytical technique and simulating the Boltzmann equation for the nonequilibrium electron energy distribution function. It has been shown that NEM may be realized under condition of ionization evolution generated by selective optical excitation of resonant transition of lithium atom Li(2S)–Li(2P).