We present a review of the current experimental and theoretical understanding
of electron transport in noble liquids. Special attention is given to recent
measurements that coincide with the development of time projection chambers
(TPCs) using liquid xenon and argon as detector media. To enable transparent
benchmarking of simulations and to facilitate the comparison between early
studies and modern TPC data, we introduce a new open-access database of
electron mobility and diffusion measurements. In particular, we emphasize the
transition to large-scale detector designs which incorporate extended drift
distances alongside improved purity control and field uniformity. On the
theoretical side, we contrast empirical transport models with ab initio
approaches, highlighting our recent efforts to incorporate low-energy,
liquid-specific scattering phenomena, including coherent scattering,
polarization screening, and bulk potential modifications. While elastic
transport has seen substantial theoretical progress, inelastic processes in
liquids, including ionization, exciton formation and interband transitions,
remain poorly understood due to the lack of experimental cross sections and
validated models. We also discuss the applications and challenges of modeling
scintillation, doped and mixture-liquid targets, and gas-liquid interface
behavior, all of which are critical for the design and optimization of
next-generation detectors.
Cet article explore les excursions dans le temps et leurs implications.
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2504.16338v1