The electron energy distribution function (EEDF) in an afterglow of a pulsed direct current discharge has been measured in an Ar:N
2 mixture by means of a time-resolved Langmuir probe technique. The vibrational temperature,
Tv, of N
2 molecules has also been experimentally estimated. The results show that a correlation between an effective electron temperature,
Te, and
Tv strongly varies with experimental conditions. In particular the conditions exist under which the rapid decrease from high to low
Te values is observed at some moment after the discharge pulse, while the vibrational temperature remains almost constant.
The theoretical study of the EEDF in Ar:N2 afterglow plasma has also been made by the numerical solution of an appropriate Boltzma