On the possibility of the EEDF bi-stability in nitrogen afterglow

So far no systematic electron energy distribution function (EEDF) calculations in nitrogen afterglow were made with taking into account e-e collisions, and the effect of EEDF bi-stability was not mentioned. In present paper the possibility of the EEDF bi-stability in nitrogen afterglow is studied theoretically. From the mathematical standpoint two solutions of the steady state Boltzmann equation for the electron energy distribution function - Ie-M + Iin + (SUP)v + (SUP)e + Ie-e = 0 - are possible, since in the presence of electron-electron collisions this equation is nonlinear. From the point of view of experiments it means that in N2 afterglow two different steady states can be realized