Numerical and analytical solutions of the electron Boltzmann equation in two-temperature steady-state helium plasma are studied in a broad range of conditions (5000 K≤${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{a}}$≤20 000 K, 10 000 K≤${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{e}}$≤20 000 K; ${10}^{10}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{-}3}$≤${\mathit{N}}_{\mathit{a}}$≤${10}^{18}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{-}3}$). The WKB analytical solution is found to be satisfactory in most situations. The deviation of the electron distribution from Maxwellian and a possibility of raising of the tail of the distribution is also discussed.

• Received 29 June 1990

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.43.4409