Coupled electron photon collisional transport in externally applied electromagnetic fields

Abstract

The model presented describes the time-independent production and transport of the electron/photon cascade in two-dimensional cylindrical material/void configurations in the presence of static electromagnetic fields of arbitrary spatial dependence. The range of phenomena that can be studied with the model is carefully delineated. The underlying assumptions required for coupling condensed-history collisional Monte Carlo with macroscopic field transport are set forth in detail. The method is applied to specific problems in electron-beam-excited high-pressure gas laser research, high-intensity flash x-ray source development, and electron-beam-fusion research. Results are compared with the predictions of earlier theoretical models and with experimental data. Comparisons between the theoretical models clearly demonstrate the importance of the additional capabilities achieved in the model described here. Because of the complexity of the experiments, comparisons between the theoretical predictions and the experimental data are not especially definitive; where comparisons are possible, however, there appears to be at least qualitative agreement.