Electron distribution function in electron-beam-excited plasmas
In monatomic plasmas excited by high-intensity relativistic electron beams, the electron secondary distribution function is dominated by elastic electron-electron collisions at low electron energies and by inelastic electron-atom collisions at high electron energies (above the excitation threshold). Under these conditions, the total rate of excitation by inelastic collisions is limited by the rate at which electron-electron collisions relax the distribution function in the neighborhood of the excitation threshold. To describe this effect quantitatively, an approximate analytic solution of the electron Boltzmann equation is obtained, including both electron-electron and inelastic collisions. The result provides a simple formula for the total rate of excitation. (AIP)
- Research Organization:
- Avco Everett Research Laboratory, Incorporated, Everett, Massachusetts 02149
- OSTI ID:
- 7281908
- Journal Information:
- Appl. Phys. Lett.; (United States), Journal Name: Appl. Phys. Lett.; (United States) Vol. 29:1; ISSN APPLA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
700103* -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Kinetics
ANALYTICAL SOLUTION
ATOM COLLISIONS
BEAM-PLASMA SYSTEMS
BEAMS
BOLTZMANN EQUATION
COLLISIONS
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
DISTRIBUTION FUNCTIONS
ELASTIC SCATTERING
ELECTRON BEAMS
ELECTRON COLLISIONS
ELECTRON-ATOM COLLISIONS
ELECTRON-ELECTRON COLLISIONS
ENERGY
ENERGY LEVELS
ENERGY RANGE
ENERGY-LEVEL TRANSITIONS
EQUATIONS
EXCITATION
EXCITED STATES
GAS LASERS
HEAT TREATMENTS
INELASTIC SCATTERING
LASERS
LEPTON BEAMS
PARTICLE BEAMS
QUENCHING
RELATIVISTIC RANGE
SCATTERING
THRESHOLD ENERGY