Kinetic resonances and stratification of the positive column of a discharge

Resonance formation of the electron velocity distribution function (EDF) in an inert gas dc discharge at low pressures and small currents is analyzed on the basis of an accurate numerical solution of the Boltzmann kinetic equation in spatially periodic sinusoidally modulated striation-like fields. Calculations are performed for neon at pressures around 1 Torr. The dependences of the EDF, electron density and mean energy, and excitation rate on the electric field spatial period length are investigated. In addition to resonances corresponding to S and P striations predicted by linear analytical theory, the kinetic model indicates the presence of a resonance that can be attributed to an R striation. This resonance is more pronounced at lower pressures when R striations are observed experimentally. The influence of inelastic collisions on the EDF formation in the resonance fields is analyzed