Electron kinetics under AC/DC electric and magnetic fields: benchmark calculations and electron cyclotron resonance

This work explores the capabilities of the Monte Carlo open-source code LoKI-MC, aiming to investigate the electron kinetics under AC/DC electric fields and DC magnetic fields crossed at arbitrary angles. The study includes both model gases (Reid-Ramp and Lucas-Saelee) and real gases (N2 and Ar), with a thorough comparison of the code against various independent benchmark calculations available in the literature. The role of the magnetic field is examined, distinguishing between configurations with DC and AC electric fields. In the case of DC electric fields, the oscillatory motion induced by the magnetic field reduces the efficiency of electron acceleration. Conversely, in AC electric fields, when the magnetic field value is such that the cyclotron frequency is similar to the angular frequency of the electric field, electron acceleration is enhanced through the well-known phenomenon of electron cyclotron resonance. However, under conditions where the mean collision frequency significantly exceeds the cyclotron frequency, the synchronization tends to break down, and the magnetic field becomes detrimental to electron acceleration, similar to the DC electric field case. Finally, this research provides novel benchmark calculations for electron kinetics solvers under coexistent AC electric and DC magnetic fields, accounting for the effect of gas density and the angle between the fields. The current work highlights the potential of LoKI-MC, which is freely available for the community.