RATES OF INELASTIC ELECTRON PROCESSES IN A VARYING ELECTRIC-FIELD IN AIR

The rates of inelastic processes in air are determined by numerically solving the Boltzmann equation under conditions such that the electric field and electron density vary slowly in time and space. The results of calculations are employed for quasi-two-dimensional modeling of a cathode-directed streamer in a long air gap. It is shown that, under n ormal conditions, the nonlocal and nonsteady character of the electron energy distribution has an insignificant impact on streamer propagati on.