Transport of Electrons in Atomic Liquids in High Electric Fields

To describe the transport properties of hot electrons in high electric fields, a theory for the scattering of excess electrons in atomic liquids with high atomic polarizability is proposed. The theory is based on the variable phase method and it does not require information about the short-range part of the electron-atom potential. The scattering of electrons by density fluctuations in a liquid of a given macroscopic density (the liquid density) is taken into account in the framework of the theory. Mobility, mean and characteristic energies of electrons as functions of the electric field strength are calculated for different liquid densities. The results are presented for liquid Ar at the triple point, and at the density at which the scattering of electrons by density fluctuations is predominant.