Position-dependent electron swarm behaviour in steady-state Townsend discharges

The position-dependent swarm parameters and the energy distribution F( epsilon ,x) of electrons in argon gas have been analysed using a propagator method in which a proper relation between the trajectories of electrons and the cells in an energy epsilon and position x space were considered. The results showed fine structures of damped fluctuation in the swarm parameters, which has been seen from the results of a Monte Carlo method. When initial electrons with zero energy were ejected from the cathode, F( epsilon ,x) at E/N=283 Td could not reach the equilibrium condition even at the distance at which the equilibrium values of mean energy, drift velocity, etc. of electrons seemed to have already been obtained.