Nonlocal electron kinetics in gas discharge plasma

Abstract

The field of electron kinetics in extremely nonequilibrium glow discharge plasma is reviewed, starting from the classical works of Langmuir. It is shown that it is only in terms of kinetics that many aspects of nonequilibrium plasma -- such as the structure of near-electrode regions, spatial profiles of ionization and luminosity, striations and particle and energy flows -- can be adequately understood.