Derivation of the electron drift velocity vector in gas under crossed ac electric and dc magnetic fields assuming constant-collision-frequency models

Abstract

The periodic variation of the average electron velocity vector under crossed ac electric and dc magnetic fields is formulated analytically on the basis of kinetic equations for single-electron motion assuming constant-collision-frequency models with and without ionization. The velocity vector draws elliptic loci with the alternation of the electric field, and this is verified by Monte Carlo simulations. The amplitude and the mean deflection angle of the velocity vector, which represent basic features of electron transport in magnetized plasmas, are explicitly described with the collision frequency, the ac angular frequency, and the intensities of the fields.