The Maxwellian nature of free-electrons' gas spectrum of noble gases at low pressure

• Free-electrons' gas spectrum shape in gas under the influence of the electrical field is considered.
• It was concluded that the spectrum is Maxwellian, if noble gases and subpressures are used.
• The conclusion was experimentally verified in the Townsend's region of electrical discharge.

A free-electrons' gas spectrum shape in gases under the influence of the electrical field is considered in the theoretical part of the paper. Based on the nature of electrons' interaction with ions and molecules (or atoms) of gas, it was concluded that the spectrum is Maxwellian, if noble gases and subpressures are used. This conclusion was experimentally verified in the Townsend's region of electrical discharge. The gases used were Helium, Neon, Argon, Xenon and Krypton. The utilized pressures ranged from 0.3 Pam to 10 Pam. Interelectrode distances were in the range of 0.1 mm–1 mm. It has been assumed that the free-electrons’ gas spectrum is of the Maxwellian type by means of the mathematical analysis of macroscopically measurable consequences, and this assumption has been verified through the experiment. New constants enabling electrical discharge parameters' calculation in the Townsend's region have been presented according to Townsend's, Takashi's and Maxwell's expressions.