The electron energy distribution function in a mercuryhyphen;argon lowhyphen;pressure positive column was determined from the second derivative of voltagehyphen;current characteristics of a single probe. The probe signals were analyzed with a digital signal processing technique. The highhyphen;energy tail of the distribution functions (thinsp;fsim;10minus;5) was obtained at mercury coldest spot temperature of 20, 42, and 60thinsp;deg;C (mercury density ratio of 4.8times;10minus;4, 2.8times;10minus;3, and 1.0times;10minus;2), and discharge current of 0.2, 0.4, and 0.6 A for a 24hyphen;mmhyphen;diam tube. The electron density and electric field strength were measured at the same time, and used as input to a Boltzmann equation analysis code. General agreement was found between the experimental and theoretical results for the distribution function.
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