Electron energy distribution in a high pressure gas discharge sustained by a high current electron beam

The electron energy distribution in a high pressure molecular gas discharge sustained by a high current electron beam is calculated for the electron energies strongly exceeding the ionization energy. The consideration is valid also for the non-uniform local distribution in velocity space. An approximate analytical solution is carried out, and the expression for the integrated distribution function F(V)=∫sub(V)f(V(bar),r(bar))dO d3r is given. Using this function the number of ionizations is calculated assuming three-body recombination as the main loss mechanism. The specific energy deposited in the gas mixture is calculated compared with experimental results. The agreement is found to be reasonable, which emphasizes the necessity of the kinetic approach. (Auth.)