Energy distribution of heavy particles generated in the cathode fall of glow discharge

The energy spectrum of ions and fast neutrals generated in the cathode fall of a glow discharge is considered on the basis of the Davis model (1963) and in the light of the Boltzmann equation. A fundamental model based on the Boltzmann equation is developed and extended to include the effects of ionization processes due to electrons and ions and secondary electron emission from the cathode. It is shown that characteristic parameters associated with the model describing the spectrum can be easily obtained from relatively simple measurements of macroscopic properties of the glow discharge.