Studies of total ionization in gases/mixtures of interest to pulsed power applications

Journal Article · Tue Jul 15 04:00:00 EDT 1986 · J. Appl. Phys.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.337792· OSTI ID:5524515

Reinking, G F; Christophorou, L G; Hunter, S R

The energy required to produce an electron-ion pair (i.p.), W, for the ..cap alpha..-particle irradiated gases CF/sub 4/, C/sub 2/F/sub 6/, C/sub 3/F/sub 8/, and n-C/sub 4/F/sub 10/ has been measured and found to be 34.3, 34.5, 34.4, and 34.2 eV/ i.p., respectively. The large values of W for these perfluorocarbons (PFCs) are attributed to their large cross sections for electron impact-induced dissociation. The constancy of W for this group of molecules is discussed with respect to the constancy of the ratio (approx.0.68) of the respective (energy integrated) total ionization cross section to the total (energy integrated) inelastic scattering cross section. W values are also reported for the binary gas mixtures Ar/CF/sub 4/, Ar/C/sub 2/F/sub 6/, Ar/C/sub 3/F/sub 8/, and CH/sub 4//CF/sub 4/ which have conduction and insulation properties suitable for use in diffuse discharge opening switches. The W values for these binary mixtures (and for C/sub 2/H/sub 2//CF/sub 4/, C/sub 2/H/sub 2//C/sub 2/F/sub 6/, and C/sub 2/H/sub 2//C/sub 3/F/sub 8/) increase with the amount of PFCs in the mixture and (contrary to the Ar/C/sub 2/H/sub 2/ mixture) exhibit no Jesse effect. The ternary gas mixtures Ar/C/sub 2/H/sub 2//PFC ( = CF/sub 4/, C/sub 2/F/sub 6/, C/sub 3/F/sub 8/) containing < or approx. =10% PFC were found to exhibit a pronounced Jesse effect which is a function of the content of the PFC in the mixture and the electron scattering cross section of the PFC itself. Substantial increases in ionization can be achieved by adding to the Ar/PFC binaries 1-3% of C/sub 2/H/sub 2/.

• Research Organization: Atomic, Molecular and High Voltage Physics Group, Health and Safety Research Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• OSTI ID: 5524515
• Journal Information: J. Appl. Phys.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Appl. Phys.; (United States) Vol. 60:2; ISSN JAPIA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640304* -- Atomic
Molecular &amp; Chemical Physics-- Collision Phenomena
74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
ALPHA PARTICLES
ARGON
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON FLUORIDES
CARBON TETRAFLUORIDE
CHARGED PARTICLES
COLLISIONS
CROSS SECTIONS
DATA
DISSOCIATION
ELECTRON COLLISIONS
ELECTRON-ION COLLISIONS
ELECTRON-MOLECULE COLLISIONS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY-LEVEL TRANSITIONS
EXCITATION
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FLUIDS
FLUORIDES
FLUORINATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
FLUORINE COMPOUNDS
GASES
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
HALOGENATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
HYDROCARBONS
INFORMATION
ION COLLISIONS
ION-MOLECULE COLLISIONS
IONIZATION
IONS
MOLECULAR IONS
MOLECULE COLLISIONS
NONMETALS
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC FLUORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
RARE GASES
SCATTERING