Magnetic insulation in nitrogen subjected to crossed fields

In the E/N range from 150 to 400 Td (1 Td = 10-17 Vcm2), the combination of crossed magnetic fields resulting in avalanche growth inhibition in nitrogen are evaluated by means of a Monte Carlo simulation. The simulation technique employed analysis swarm development without any a priori assumptions on electron energy distribution functions and electron collisional frequencies. For the combined crossed fields evaluated, variation of number of free electrons, average positions of the swarm and pulsed Townsend energies with respect to sampling times are reported. The pulsed Townsend energies indicate considerable reduction in the mean energies when the electron avalanche at a given E/N is inhibited upon the application of a specific magnetic field value. Effectively reduced electric fields are calculated from the magnetic deflection angles obtained from the simulation. It is observed that the calculated effectively reduced fields with the related pulsed Townsend mean energies favor the effectively reduced field concept in the combined fields.