Effect of electron energy distribution function on the global model for high power microwave breakdown at high pressures

A global model (GM) was developed to investigate the effect of reaction kinetics and plasma parameters on high power microwave (HPM) breakdown time for multiple species. However, the GM requires specification of the electron energy distribution function (EEDF); the common assumption of a Maxwellian EEDF results in incorrect plasma parameters since the electrons are not in equilibrium. We examine the effect of the EEDF on the GM and develop a method to obtain a better EEDF to improve the fidelity of the prediction of HPM breakdown at high pressures. (C) 2008 American Institute of Physics.