Spatial distribution of energy deposited in nitrogen by electrons

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Abstract
The spatial distribution of the energy deposited by kilovolt electrons moving through gaseous molecular nitrogen was measured. The range of electrons of initial energy 300 eV to 5 keV was obtained and can be expressed by the formula R=K1+K2EA1−K3EA2, where R is the range, E is the initial energy of the electrons, and Ki,Ai are constants. The range, in this energy interval, is greater than that determined by previous measurements. A source of error, not previously discussed, is considered. The energy region (above 1 keV) where the simpler expression R=KEA holds is discussed. It is shown that this is the energy region where the energy and range dependence of the energy deposition curve can be removed and a normalized, characteristic energy deposition curve λ can be obtained. The efficiency of conversion of electron energy at 1 keV and 280 μ pressure to energy of photons at 3914 Å was measured to be (0.28±0.03) %.