Influence of the collision frequency on the electron distribution function in laser-induced discharges in argon

Abstract

The influence of the collision frequency on the electron energy distribution function in laser-induced discharges in argon is studied. In this investigation three different cases of the collision frequency are considered. In the first two cases the authors used two constant values of the collision frequency namely 3.9*109 S-1 Torr-1 and 9.5*109 S-1 Torr-1. In the third case the exact correlation between the collision frequency and the electron energy (i.e. the collision frequency is allowed to vary with the electron energy) is taken into consideration. Useful information is obtained on the role the collision frequency plays in the electron energy distribution function and consequently its related parameters.