XCV. Energy expenditure per ion pair for electrons and α-particles

Abstract

Abstract Work on the energy expenditure per ion pair, V, by means of endcorrected ion chambers and proportional counters is extended to include ionization by Po α-particles. The gases argon, helium, hydrogen, nitrogen, air, oxygen and methane are studied. Curves of ion current against percentage of argon admixed with the other gases are plotted and the ratio V gas/ V argon determined in each case. Previous values of V obtained with electrons are discussed and small differences in the corresponding values of V in the electron and α-particle cases are noted.