A new integration of the second-order Boltzmann equation for electron energy conservation in a gaseous electronic plasma, with large inelastic scattering cross sections, has been accomplished. The procedure was to solve a system of numerical equations approximating the differential equation by using the tridiagonal matrix form resulting from a firstorder expansion of the terms of the equation in onergy space. The results of the integration showed excellent self-consistency iv, energy balance, and gave significantly different excitation rate integrals from previous solutions. A FORTRAN computer code for the CDC 6600 is appended to the report.
I. INTRODUCTIONThe solution of the Boltzmann equation for electron energy distribution in a gaseous medium, with electric gradient and high inelastic scattering cross section, has been a fundamental problem in the field of gaseous electronics. In recent years a first integral of the second-order linear differential equation has been solved numerically. Apparent errors in the energy conservation tests of this solution suggest that a numerical integration of the second-order equation should be attempted directly.
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