MAS Seminar 8 February 2010

Non-equilibrium transport of electrons and positrons in neutral gases

Date: 8 February 2010
Time: 11.30-12.30h
Room: L017

Speaker: Sasa Dujko, Institute of Physics, University of Belgrade, Serbia (visiting Ute)
Title: Non-equilibrium transport of electrons and positrons in neutral gases

Abstract:, Advancements in modern day technology associated with non-equilibrium low-temperature magnetized plasma discharges to particle detectors, and from positron traps to medical diagnostics techniques such as Positron Emission Tomography demand the most accurate modeling of the underlying charged particle transport processes involved. In order to meet this demand, the groups at the James Cook University in Townsville (Australia) and Institute of Physics in Belgrade (Serbia) have undertaken a program to understand the kinetic behavior of charged particle swarms under the combined action of electric and magnetic fields in neutral gases. The scope of this program has covered a variety of hydrodynamic and non-hydrodynamic studies of electron and positron transport processes in varying configurations of electric and magnetic fields when non-conservative collisions are operative. Two complementary techniques are developed and employed: a multi-term solution of Boltzmann’s equation and Monte Carlo simulation technique, both adapted to consider the time-dependent hydrodynamic and steady state non-hydrodynamic conditions. New and significant numerical results are presented to highlight the rich and diverse range of kinetic phenomena observed in varying configuration of electric and magnetic fields. In this talk we will discuss the origin and mechanisms for such phenomena, their sometimes paradoxical manifestations and possible physical implications which arise from their explicit use in realistic applications.