Ionization coefficients in nitrogen

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Abstract
Primary and secondary Townsend ionization coefficients, α and ω/α, were determined for nitrogen over the range 100<E/p0−1 torr−1 from data on the spatial growth of currents in uniform fields. Values of α/p0 were found to be smaller than those previously published for mercury-contaminated gas, the difference being particularly noticeable at higher values of E/p0 and correspondingly lower pressures. Theoretical calculations of α, based on the Maxwellian distribution for electron energies, gave values comparable with those measured experimentally at E/p0 similar 120 v cm−1 torr−1; calculations at higher electron energies would require large extrapolations of electron drift velocities and temperatures. The observed variation of ω/α with E/p0 can be explained quantitatively by assuming resonance neutralization of an ion to occur as it approaches the metal surface of the cathode; for sufficiently high approach velocities Auger de-excitation follows.
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