Drift Velocities of Ions in Nitrogen

Abstract

The drift velocities of ions in nitrogen have been measured over very wide ranges of E/p0, the ratio of electric field to pressure reduced to 0°C, under conditions permitting the pressure to be varied separately. The apparatus used consisted of a glow discharge as the ion source, an auxiliary drift space, an electronic shutter, and a final drift space. The readings were taken by measuring the time of flight of the ions across the final drift space. The ion current was amplified and displayed on an oscilloscope. Over a wide range of E/p0 two ion species were present, and these ions are believed to be N2+ and N3+. The N2+ drift velocities varied from 2.5×104 cm/sec at an E/p0 of 20 V/(cm×mm Hg) to 3×105 cm/sec at an E/p0 of 800. The N3+ drift velocity varied from 1.5×104 cm/sec at an E/p0 of 6 to 5×105 cm/sec at an E/p0 of 300.