An example smoke detector includes (i) a chamber; (ii) a first electrode disposed within the chamber; (iii) a second electrode disposed within the chamber, wherein gas is disposed in an inner space of the chamber between the first electrode and the second electrode; (iv) a radioactive source generating alpha particles within inner space of the chamber; and (v) a magnet coupled to the chamber, where the magnet generates a magnetic field in the inner space of the chamber.