Monte Carlo studies of the magnetic field effects on spatial relaxation of electron swarms

Abstract

An investigation of spatial relaxation of the electrons in model gases in the presence of electric and magnetic fields is carried out over a wide range of values of electric and magnetic field strengths and angles between the fields. A Monte Carlo simulation technique has been specifically developed to study the synergism of magnetic field effects and non-conservative collisions on spatial relaxation of the electrons. It was shown that the application of a magnetic field significantly alters the relaxation profiles of the electron mean energy, average velocity and rate coefficients. In general, the magnetic field and the angle between the fields can be used to futher control the spatial relaxation of the electron transport properties.