https://doi.org/10.1140/epjd/e2014-50088-4
Regular Article
Monte Carlo analysis of ionization effects on spatiotemporal electron swarm development*
1
Institute of Physics, University of Belgrade,
Pregrevica 118, 11080
Belgrade,
Serbia
2
ARC Centre for Antimatter-Matter Studies, School of Engineering
and Physical Sciences, James Cook University, 4810
Townsville,
Australia
3
Department of Electronics and Electrical Engineering, Keio
University, 3-14-1
Hiyoshi, Yokohama
223-8522,
Japan
a
e-mail: sasha@ipb.ac.rs
Received: 31 January 2014
Received in final form: 13 March 2014
Published online: 27 June 2014
The explicit impact of ionization dynamics on the non-hydrodynamic spatiotemporal development of electron swarms in gases under the influence of an electric field is considered using a Monte Carlo simulation technique. The existence and decay of spatially periodic structures in the electron energy distribution function and electron density profiles are observed. The sensitivity of the transient and steady-state phases of the development of the electron energy distribution function to post-ionization energy partitioning is studied by comparison of three ionization energy partitioning regimes for the ionization model of Lucas and Saelee.
© EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag 2014