Microwave radiometric investigation of the electron velocity distribution in nitrogen plasmas

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Abstract
A microwave radiometric technique has been used to investigate the electron velocity distribution function f(v) during the afterglow of a pulsed N2 discharge. The technique involves comparing radiation temperature measurements taken around electron cyclotron resonance with theoretical computations based on a chosen form for f(v). Non‐Maxwellian forms of f(v) displaying either an excess or depletion of high‐energy electrons have been observed in the afterglow for different experimental conditions. The technique does not have the necessary sensitivity to determine f(v) during the active discharge.