On the relaxation of energetic electrons in plasmas

The impact of individual collision processes on the relaxation of the velocity distribution function of a group of electrons, initially localized in a narrow region at relatively high energies, has been studied. By having recourse to solutions of the non-stationary Boltzmann equation and to corresponding Monte-Carlo simulations, the temporal behaviour of electrons in CO2 plasmas, both in the absence and the presence of an external dc field, has been investigated. A microphysical interpretation of observed relaxation phenomena, based on the data relevant to the individual collision processes, is also given. (orig.)