electron temperature


electron temperature

A ‘statistical’ temperature required to account for the observed energy of electrons, assuming that the energy is kinetic energy. The electrons may be in a plasma, gas, or solid, however since they are not in equilibrium with their surroundings, they may have a much higher temperature.

electron temperature

[i′lek‚trän ′tem·prə·chər] (plasma physics) The temperature at which ideal gas molecules would have an average kinetic energy equal to that of electrons in a plasma under consideration.