Electron collision processes in gaseous xenon

In this study, we investigate electron transport properties in xenon gas by using a Monte Carlo technique for electrons with energies below 10 keV. First, we construct a set of electron collision cross sections with xenon by looking up cross section data taken from several publications. Secondly, the W value and the Fano factor for electrons in gaseous xenon are computed by Monte Carlo simulation on the assumption that electrons undergo single collision events including elastic, excitation and ionization processes. Finally, we obtain the production rate of excited atoms, which may contribute to an estimation of scintillation efficiency. Accuracy of the calculation from a viewpoint of the collision cross sections is also discussed. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.