Blowing of current patterns in nonequilibrium plasmas.

A description is given of some initial calculations of the displacement of current patterns in non-equilibrium plasmas due to a flow. Convection of energy is considered via the electron energy equation, but finite ionization rates are neglected. A pair of point electrodes in a parallel walled channel is chosen as a convenient problem to illustrate the solution procedure. It is found that the electron temperature distribution becomes skewed, the current displaced downstream, and the voltage to pass a given current is increased as the flow velocity becomes higher. (Author)