Monte Carlo simulation of electron thermalization in gases. III. Epithermal electrons in molecular nitrogen
The thermalization of epithermal electrons due to the rotationally inelastic and elastic collisions in molecular nitrogen is studied with the Monte Carlo simulation. The elastic and rotational cross sections are taken as the experimental momentum-transfer cross section and the Gerjuoy--Stein formula with the effective quadrupole moment, respectively, which are consistent with the swarm data. The accuracy of the approximate theory based on the assumption of the local Maxwell electron velocity distribution (MD) is examined, where the initial electron velocity distribution is taken to be the MD. The electron velocity distribution deviates significantly from the MD; consequently the degradation of the effective electron temperature (reduced mean electron energy), which is dominated by the rotationally inelastic collisions, is slower than that for the MD and the pressure normalized thermalization time tau/sub th/ p is about 20% larger than that for the MD. The degradation and tau/sub th/ p are compared with those calculated from the experimental energy exchange rate coefficient, relaxation time, or relaxation rate.
- Research Organization:
- National Aerospace Laboratory, Jindaiji-Machi, Chofu, Tokyo, Japan
- OSTI ID:
- 6651614
- Journal Information:
- J. Chem. Phys.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Chem. Phys.; (United States) Vol. 81:1; ISSN JCPSA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
Molecular & Chemical Physics-- Collision Phenomena
74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
COLLISIONS
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
ELASTIC SCATTERING
ELECTRON COLLISIONS
ELECTRON-MOLECULE COLLISIONS
ELECTRONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ELEMENTS
ENERGY LEVELS
ENERGY-LEVEL TRANSITIONS
EXCITED STATES
FERMIONS
LEPTONS
MOLECULE COLLISIONS
MONTE CARLO METHOD
NITROGEN
NONMETALS
ROTATIONAL STATES
SCATTERING
SIMULATION
SLOWING-DOWN
THERMALIZATION