Monte Carlo Simulation of Electronic Kinetics in Gas Discharge

Abstract

The phenomenon of electrical gas discharge is present in manyapplications of plasma physics. Calculation of electrons motion tracingin gases are described. The backscattering probability of electrons tothe cathode has been estimated for values of E/P0 ratio from 10 to 200V.cm-1.torr-1 and for emission energies up to the lowest excitationpotential. The primary ionization coefficients and drift velocities wereevaluated for values of E/P0 ratio from 20 to 400 V.cm-1.torr-1. Theequilibrium of swarm with the field was considered in detail. It isshown that for uniform fields, deviations from exponential growth ofcurrent with increasing electrode separation occur if the interelectrodevoltage is not at least three times the mean energy ofelectrons impinging on the anode.