SHAPING OF THE ELECTRON-DISTRIBUTION FUNCTION IN A STRIATED SOLUTION

Numerous papers have been devoted to the investigation of striations i n inert gases at low pressures (p less than or equal to 2 Torr) and sm all currents (i<100 mA) [A. V. Nedospasov, Sov. Phys. Usp. 11, 174 (19 68); L. Pekarek, Sov. Phys. Usp. 11,:188 (1968); N. I;. Oleson and A. W. Cooper, Adv. Electron. Electron Phys. 24, 155 (1968); P. S. Landa, N. A. Miskinova, and Yu. V. Ponomarev, Sov. Phys. Usp. 23, 813 (1980)] . Since the nature of striations is determined under these conditions by the nonlocal kinetics of the electrons in spatially periodic fields [L. D. Tsendin, Sov. J. Plasma Phys. 8, 228 (1982)]: an investigation of the electron distribution function in space and time would be very interesting. The purpose of the present work is to experimentally inv estigate the potential profiles and distribution functions in S and P striations and to analyze the mechanism which shapes the distribution functions for striations of these types. (C) 1997 American Institute o f Physics.