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 CO
2
laser mixtures. The equilibrium collision frequency for a constant applied electric field has also been calculated as a function of
E/N
, 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
E/N
in the discharge.