Electric-Field Gradients across the Glow Discharge

Electric-Field Gradients across the Glow Discharge 

When the discharge has been set up, there is a movement of electrons from cathode to anode and a corresponding movement of positive ions from the anode to cathode. These transfers of electrons and ions to each electrode must balance to maintain electrical neutrality in the circuit. Thus, the number of positive ions discharging at the cathode must equal the number of electrons discharging at the anode. This occurs, but the actual drift velocities of electrons and ions toward the respective electrodes are not equal. 

As the electrons move from cathode to anode, they undergo elastic and inelastic collisions with gas atoms. The paths of the electrons are not along straight lines between the electrodes because of the collisions. In effect, the movement of each electron consists of short steps between 

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