On the theory of a positive column of a direct-current glow discharge

The development of theoretical concepts of the physics of a positive column of a glow discharge and the present-day state of the problem are reported. The results of the kinetic solution of the self-consistent problem are com pared with the results of the description based on the local hydrodynamic a pproximation. It is shown by an example of inert gases that the use of Maxw ell-Boltzmann electron distributions over velocities and coordinates does n ot describe the actual picture of physical processes taking place in a posi tive column of a glow discharge.