ELECTRON DISTRIBUTION FUNCTION AND ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY OF A SLIGHTLY IONIZED GAS

Abstract

An expansion of a formally rigorous integral solution of the Boltzmann equation in powers of the electric field and m/M is used to demons rate clearly the correct expression for the conductivity of a spatially homogeneous slightly ionized gas. The conditions under which the isotropic part of the electron distribution function reduces to the Margenau distribution are determined. A discu sion of the physical reasons for the possibility of negative conductivity is given.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 1962
Accession Number
AD0278287

Entities

People

  • Douglas H. Sampson
  • Jacob Enoch

Organizations

  • General Electric

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Boltzmann Equation
  • Collisions
  • Conductivity
  • Current Density
  • Differential Equations
  • Distribution Functions
  • Electric Fields
  • Electrical Conductivity
  • Electrons
  • Equations
  • Ionized Gases
  • Kinetic Energy
  • Scattering
  • Scattering Cross Sections
  • Space Sciences
  • Steady State
  • Time Dependence

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Calculus or Mathematical Analysis
  • Plasma Physics / Magnetohydrodynamics

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics