  We apply the Ionization Region Model (IRM) and the Orsay Boltzmann equation
for ELectrons coupled with Ionization and eXcited states kinetics (OBELIX)
model to study the electron kinetics of a high power impulse magnetron
sputtering (HiPIMS) discharge. In the IRM the bulk (cold) electrons are assumed
to exhibit a Maxwellian energy distribution and the secondary (hot) electrons,
emitted from the target surface upon ion bombardment, are treated as a high
energy tail, while in the OBELIX the electron energy distribution is calculated
self-consistently using an isotropic Boltzmann equation. The two models are
merged in the sense that the output from the IRM is used as an input for
OBELIX. The temporal evolutions of the particle densities are found to agree
very well between the two models. Furthermore, a very good agreement is
demonstrated between the bi-Maxwellian electron energy distribution assumed by
the IRM and the electron energy distribution calculated by the OBELIX model. It
can therefore be concluded that assuming a bi-Maxwellian electron energy
distribution, constituting a cold bulk electron group and a hot secondary
electron group, is a good approximation for modeling the HiPIMS discharge.
