On the Theory of Anisotropic Diffusion of Electrons in Gases

Abstract

It is now recognized that when electrons move in a steady state of motion in a gas in an electric field the process of diffusion is in general anisotropic with a coefficient of diffusion DL along or against the electric force eE that is not the same as the coefficient D for directions normal to eE. A theoretical discussion of this phenomenon based upon the Maxwell?Boltzmann equation is given which also entails consideration of related matters such as the distribution function for an isolated travelling group, the distribution of number density n, the equation of continuity and current density, and the relation of the theory of the travelling group to that of the steady stream.