Electric field dependence of transient electron transport properties in rare-gas moderators

Journal Article · Sun Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1985 · Phys. Rev. A; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.32.3669· OSTI ID:5072238

Shizgal, B; McMahon, D R.A.

A discrete-ordinate method of solution of the time-dependent Boltzmann-Fokker-Planck equation for electron swarms in rare-gas moderators is employed in the study of the time dependence of the average electron energy, mobility, and transverse diffusion coefficient versus the strength of an externally applied electric field. The solution of the Fokker-Planck equation is based on the expansion of the solution in the eigenfunctions of the Lorentz-Fokker-Planck operator. With the transformation to an equivalent Schroedinger eigenvalue problem, the eigenvalue spectrum is shown to be entirely discrete, thereby validating the eigenfunction-expansion approach. The effects studied include the effect of an electric field on the thermalization times, a comparison of the effects of moderators with and without Ramsauer minima in the momentum-transfer cross sections, and the effect of an external electric field on the transient negative-mobility phenomena predicted in an earlier paper. A comparison with experimental results for Xe shows good agreement with the calculations.

• Research Organization: Department of Chemistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T1Y6
• OSTI ID: 5072238
• Journal Information: Phys. Rev. A; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Rev. A; (United States) Vol. 32:6; ISSN PLRAA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

654001* -- Radiation & Shielding Physics-- Radiation Physics
Shielding Calculations & Experiments
73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS
BEAM EMITTANCE
CHARGED-PARTICLE TRANSPORT
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
DIFFUSION
DISCRETE ORDINATE METHOD
EIGENVALUES
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ELECTRON MOBILITY
ELECTRONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ELEMENTS
ENERGY
ENERGY LOSSES
EQUATIONS
FERMIONS
FLUIDS
FOKKER-PLANCK EQUATION
GASES
KINETIC ENERGY
LEPTONS
LOSSES
MOBILITY
NONMETALS
PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
PARTICLE MOBILITY
RADIATION TRANSPORT
RARE GASES