Ion Concentrations and Recombination in Expanding Low Pressure Sparks

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Abstract
Passage of a capacitor discharge through a low pressure gas between electrodes results in an abrupt expansion of the gas along any avenues open to it. In hydrogen, the expanding luminous gas shows strong Stark broadening. Applying this effect, ion concentrations have been measured ranging up to 30 percent of the initial particle concentration. Intensity measurements indicate that the quantized radiation is a result of electronic recombination. Time and space studies show that the ion concentration appears to reach a maximum at some remote position down the expansion avenue, but that all discharges reach a maximum at about the same time.

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