Model Kinetic Equations for Multiply Ionized Gas Mixtures

Abstract

Model kinetic equations are proposed for the description of ionized monoatomic gas mixture flows. The mixtures are assumed enough rarefied to be treated as ideal gases after multiple ionization steps. The model equations contain the equilibrium distribution functions for the components of the gas mixtures under consideration like it was done in BGK equations and their well-known generalizations. However, in this paper the new forms of the equilibrium distribution functions are used which correspond to the entropy maximum under the constraints of momentum, total energy, nuclei and electrons (both bound and free) conservation. It is shown that the derived model equations allow us to study the local equilibrium flows of the ionized gases and the transport processes of energy, nuclei and electrons in the non-equilibrium conditions.