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Electron motion in the gases CF/sub 4/, C/sub 2/F/sub 6/, C/sub 3/F/sub 8/, and n-C/sub 4/F/sub 10/

Journal Article · · Phys. Rev. A; (United States)

The drift velocity w of electrons has been measured in the perfluoroalkanes n-C/sub N/F/sub 2//sub N//sub +2/ (N = 1--4) over the density-reduced electric field (E/N) range 0.03 x 10/sup -17/ V cm/sup 2/less than or equal toE/Nless than or equal to500 x 10/sup -17/ V cm/sup 2/ using a pulsed Townsend experimental method. The present measurements of w are the first to be obtained for C/sub 2/F/sub 6/, C/sub 3/F/sub 8/, and n-C/sub 4/F/sub 10/ at low E/N values. The electron-drift-velocity measurements in C/sub 3/F/sub 8/ and n-C/sub 4/F/sub 10/ are dependent on gas pressure at high E/N values, even after allowing for nonequilibrium and boundary corrections to the measured electron swarm transit time. This is the first observation of a pressure dependence in the electron drift velocity in these gases and is believed to be due to changes in the electron energy distribution function f(epsilon-c,E/N) with gas pressure resulting from increases in the density-normalized electron attachment coefficient eta/N with gas pressure. The perfluoroalkanes CF/sub 4/, C/sub 2/F/sub 6/, and C/sub 3/F/sub 8/ exhibit regions of pronounced negative differential conductivity (NDC) similar to but smaller in magnitude than that in CH/sub 4/. Possible mechanisms leading to the observation of NDC effects in these molecular gases are discussed.

Research Organization:
Atomic, Molecular and High Voltage Physics Group, Health and Safety Research Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831
OSTI ID:
7201166
Journal Information:
Phys. Rev. A; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Rev. A; (United States) Vol. 38:1; ISSN PLRAA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English