On the Approach of Electrons to Equilibrium

Abstract

The relaxation of electrons to equilibrium in the absence of an external field is discussed for a slightly ionized gas in which elastic collisions predominate. The gas consists of electrons and neutral molecules having a Maxwellian interaction. Spatial diffusion is neglected as well as electron-electron interaction. The change of the electronic distribution function from a simple nonequilibrium distribution to a Maxwellian distribution is followed in time. Electron attachment to neutral molecules is briefly considered.