Electron velocity distribution function in a gas in E×B fields

We have investigated the velocity distribution function of electrons in uniform E×B fields by direct numerical analysis of the Boltzmann equation by using the finite element method. The influence of E×B fields on the distribution has been exhibited under the detailed consideration of collisions between electrons and Ar atoms in terms of the three-dimensional velocity distribution. In particular, the anisotropy of the distribution in the E×B direction is discussed in terms of swarm parameters. The onset behavior of electron trapping has been investigated as a function of B in a collision dominated swarm.