Collisional Relaxation of Fast Electrons Energy in Gas

Abstract

We present results of theoretical and experimental study of collisional relaxation of fast electrons energy in gas. The dependence on the gas pressure p and electron energy ε of the mean pass Λ of fast electrons injected into a gas being sufficient to spend on ionization all their initial energy ε has been calculated. It was found that Λ is directly proportional to ε2 and inversely proportional to the gas pressure. To sustain glow discharge with electrostatic confinement of fast electrons, Λ should be less than the mean way to the anode of emitted by the cathode electrons.