Effect of electron-electron and electron-ion collisions in Hg, CO2/N2/He, and CO/N2 discharges

Through numerical solution of the Boltzmann transport equation, including the effects of electron-electron and electron-ion collisions, the dependence of transport coefficients and excitation rates on E/N and the fractional ionization have been obtained for electrical discharges in Hg, He/N2/CO2, and N2/CO mixtures. The results for Hg show a sensitive dependence on fractional ionization when E/N < 10−16 V cm2. However, for the molecular gases with values of E/N typical of laser discharges, the dependence on fractional ionization is generally weak. The one exception noted is the 1/0.25/3 CO2/N2/He mixture.