Ionization of Helium, Neon and Argon under Impact of their own Atoms and Positive Ions

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Abstract
The number of electrons liberated from neutral rare gas atoms under impact of their own atoms and positive ions was measured as a function of the kinetic energy of the impinging particles. When the impinging beam is composed mostly of neutral atoms, it is found that helium is ionized at about 60 equivalent volts, neon at about 50 volts and argon at about 40 volts. If the impinging beam is composed of atoms and positive ions in about equal proportions, additional ionization is found to set in in argon at around 330 volts. No ionization by positive ions was observed in either helium or neon up to 500 volts. Curves are shown which indicate the efficiency of ionization of the rare gases under impacts of their own atoms and positive ions.