Electron Kinetics in Time- and Space-Independent Plasmas

Electron Kinetics in Time- and Space-Independent Plasmas 

These investigations are largely performed on the basis of the two-term approximation, allowing for anisotropic scattering in elastic collisions, but assuming mainly isotropic scattering in the conservative inelastic collision processes. 

Let us briefly consider some aspects of the kinetic treatment based on the two-term approximation. When the equation system (12) is adapted to time- and space-independent plasmas, the simplified equation system (Shkarofsky et al, 1966 Winkler et al, 1982) 

In this case, the electron particle balance [Eq. (31)] is automatically satisfied. This means that for plasmas in steady state, no restriction on the electron density exists and the density can be freely chosen. 

Therefore, the constant electron density n is usually separated from the velocity distribution according to F(U, vjv) = nF U, vjv), and, consequently, in the two-term approximation, the same separation procedure is applied to the isotropic and anisotropic distribution, giving yj(C/) — nfj U) with i = 0 and 1. The substitution of this relation into the representation of the density given in Eq. (15) leads to the normalization condition 

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III. Electron Kinetics in Time- and Space-Independent Plasmas. 32... 

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