ELECTRON DIFFUSION IN A NON-UNIFORM ELECTRIC FIELD AND A UNIFORM MAGNETIC FIELD

A Monte Carlo simulation technique has been used to model the electron transport beharlot, especially the electron diffusion motion, in the cathode fall region of a glow discharge under the influence of a non-uniform electric field and a transverse magnetic field perpen-dicular to the cathode sheath electric field. Three types of collisions (elastic, excitation and ionization) are taken into account in our model. The electron free flying time is determined by the electron-neutral atom collision frequency. We focus attention on the electron diffusion distance and velocity. The electron-neutral atom collision processes and the electron drift velocity are also studied. The results indicate that with the increase of the magnetic field the electron diffusion distance increases and the electron diffusion velocity decreases. The results Mso show that the collision processes are enhanced by the magnetic field, this is in agreement with the experimental result. However, the axial magnetic field does not affect the electron transport behavior.