Mean Kinetic Energy and Mean Energy Spent in Excitation by Electrons Drifting Through Dense Gases

Two fundamental equations are used to calculate the mean kinetic energy and mean energy spent in excitation by electrons drifting through dense gases. The first equation is a statement of some of the energy relations in the passage of an electron avalanche from the cathode to the anode, and the second equation is an evaluation of the mean kinetic energy of the drifting electrons from some of the experimental data on the probability of ionization. the average energy lost by an electron per collision in exciting any level or levels of a gas molecule can be calculated from the two fundamental equations. For ratios of $\frac{E}{p}$ (field strength in volts per cm to pressure of the gas in mm of mercury) from 39 to 1000, the mean kinetic energy of the electrons drifting through nitrogen gas was found to vary approximately linearly from 3.42 to 35.6 equivalent volts. The mean energy spent in excitation per collision rose to 8.8 equivalent volts for a mean kinetic energy of 35.6 equivalent volts.