Evaluation of collision frequency in high-pressure glow discharges

We have used far infrared absorption techniques to measure the time resolved electron-neutral collision frequency in pulsed high-pressure glow discharges in nitrogen, helium, and CO2laser mixtures. The equilibrium collision frequency for a constant applied electric field has also been calculated as a function of , the electric field-to-gas density ratio. The measured and calculated collision frequencies are in good quantitative agreement. The measured temporal variation of the collision frequency arises from the temporal variation of in the discharge.