Comparison of transition from low to high density transport behavior for ions and neutral molecules in simple fluids

Electron recombination in ionized liquid argon: a computational approach based on realistic models of electron transport and reactions

In this work, we propose a new theoretical approach to modeling the electron-ion recombination processes in ionization tracks in liquid argon at 87 K. We developed a computer simulation method using realistic models of charge transport and electron-ion reactions. By introducing the concept of one-dimensional periodicity in the track, we are able to model very large cylindrical structures of charged particles. We apply our simulation method to calculate the electron escape probability as a function of the initial ionization density in the track. The results are in quantitative agreement with experiment for radiation tracks of relatively high ionization density. At low ionization densities, the simulation results slightly overestimate the experimental data. We discuss possible reasons for this disagreement and conclude that it can be explained by the role of δ tracks (short tracks of secondary electrons) in electron-ion recombination processes. We introduce an approximate model that takes into account the presence of δ tracks and allows the experimental data obtained from a liquid-argon ionization detector to be reproduced over a wide range of ionization density.

Space charge effects in a kinestatic charge detector

The effects of space charge in a kinestatic charge detector (KCD) were examined using computer solutions to Poisson's equation. The KCD is a strip-beam parallel-plate drift chamber used for digital radiography. It was assumed that there is negligible electron attachment, i.e. there are no negative ions formed. The ionization rate per mA as a function of x-ray interaction depth was calculated for a detector filled with xenon at 25.3 x 10(5) Pa. Solution of Thomson's equations gave the positive ion density at the cathode, also as a function of depth. Water filtration values ranging from 0 to 30 cm were used in order to estimate the range of ion density values expected in a clinical KCD. The case of steady-state x-ray illumination was simulated for ionization rates less than the zero field limit (above which space charge changes the polarity of the electric field). Line spread responses were found for varying ionization rates to show the effect of space charge due to electric field distortion on the spatial resolution performance in the drift direction. The effect of imaging ideal edges with a KCD was calculated and the expected output signal was plotted for densities up to the zero field limit. Space charge dependence on the selection of KCD design and operating parameters is discussed. Because of the dependence of the KCD drift-direction spatial resolution on the uniformity of the electric field, space charge effects impose an upper limit on the detector entrance exposure and define the dynamic range of the device.