CALCULATING REDUCED ELECTRIC FIELD IN DIFFUSION REGIME OF DC DISCHARGE POSITIVE COLUMN

The present paper outlines an analytical model of the positive column of the direct current discharge in a diffusion mode. We consider the case when charged particles are produced through direct ionization of gas molecules via electron impact and the ambipolar escape of them to discharge tube walls is the sole mechanism of their loss. We solved the equation for the charged particles balance and obtained simple formulas for the reduced electric field E/p in the positive column in molecular gases. Results of our calculations for E/p values in nitrogen are in good agreement with experimental and theoretical data of other authors for low discharge current values.