TY - JOUR
T1 - Stochastic development of an electron avalanche
AU - Kunhardt, E. E.
AU - Tzeng, Y.
AU - Boeuf, J. P.
PY - 1986
Y1 - 1986
N2 - The stochastic evolution in space of an electron avalanche has been investigated with the use of Monte Carlo methods. From these investigations we have obtained the energy distribution as a function of distance from the cathode and avalanche size, f(n,x); the probability distribution for avalanche size, P(n,x); and the ionization probability, per unit distance at x, for electrons belonging to an avalanche of size n, s(n,x). We believe that this is the first time that any information has been presented on f(n,x) and s(n,x) which takes microscopic processes into account. The investigations were done in nitrogen for E/N300 Td. We suggest that pulse-height distribution experiments may be a sensitive technique for determining the E/N conditions at which runaway electrons appear.
AB - The stochastic evolution in space of an electron avalanche has been investigated with the use of Monte Carlo methods. From these investigations we have obtained the energy distribution as a function of distance from the cathode and avalanche size, f(n,x); the probability distribution for avalanche size, P(n,x); and the ionization probability, per unit distance at x, for electrons belonging to an avalanche of size n, s(n,x). We believe that this is the first time that any information has been presented on f(n,x) and s(n,x) which takes microscopic processes into account. The investigations were done in nitrogen for E/N300 Td. We suggest that pulse-height distribution experiments may be a sensitive technique for determining the E/N conditions at which runaway electrons appear.
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U2 - 10.1103/PhysRevA.34.440
DO - 10.1103/PhysRevA.34.440
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0141964721
VL - 34
SP - 440
EP - 449
JO - Physical Review A
JF - Physical Review A
SN - 2469-9926
IS - 1
ER -