A Comprehensive Monte Carlo Simulation Tool on Electron Transport in Noble Gases and Liquids

TL;DR

This work addresses the need for accurate, efficient simulation of electron transport in noble gases and liquids for detectors. It introduces a comprehensive Monte Carlo tool combining gas-phase collision physics with coherent scattering in liquids via Cohen-Lekner theory, using WT and SSMC elastic-scattering models and the null-collision technique. The authors validate drift velocity and diffusion across 10–2000 V/cm against data and literature, demonstrating good agreement for He–Xe gases and Ar/Kr/Xe liquids. The tool provides a practical platform for detector design and data analysis, enabling rapid studies of electron transport properties in both gaseous and liquid noble media.

Abstract

For the particle detectors based on noble gases or liquids, it is essential to understand the transport dynamic and the properties of the electrons. We report the development of a tool for electron transport in noble gases He, Ne, Ar, Kr, or Xe, and liquids Ar, Kr, or Xe. The simulation, implemented in C++ and MATLAB, is based on electron-atom collisions, including elastic scattering, excitation and ionization. We validate the program through assessing the electron's swarm parameters, specifically the drift velocity and the diffusion coefficient. For electron transport in liquids, two models are discussed and both are used for the construction of the Monte Carlo framework based on the Cohen Leker theory. The results demonstrate the effectiveness and accuracy of the simulation tool, which offers a valuable support for detector design and data analysis.

Figures (14)

• Figure 1: The framework of the Monte Carlo simulation for electron transport
• Figure 2: Monte Carlo elastic scattering sampling model in liquid, the left is the WT model and the right is SSMC model
• Figure 3: Electron drift velocity over time in an electric field of 100 V/cm at 295 K, with demonstrated local zoom details and Gaussian fit to drift velocity.
• Figure 4: the transverse and longitudinal diffusion of electrons in gas argon. (a) The position distribution of the electrons is shown at 1500 us. Z is the direction of the electric field. X and y are the transverse direction. (b) is a linear fit of the variance over time, with the diffusion coefficient being this slope divided by 2.
• Figure 5: Elastic scattering, excitation and ionization cross sections for noble gas(from Biagi LXCathttps://doi.org/10.1002/ppap.201600098carbone2021dataPANCHESHNYI2012148). a:Helium, b:Neon, c:Argon, d:Krypton, e:Xenon.