Electron swarm parameters in nitrogen

Abstract

Measurements have been made, using recently developed experimental and theoretical techniques, of: the ratio of radial diffusion coefficient to mobility, Dr/μexp; the amplification coefficient, (λL-uL)/p; and Townsend's ionization coefficient, αT/p: for electron swarms in nitrogen for 10 less-than-or-eq, slant E/p less-than-or-eq, slant 450 V cm−1 Torr−1 at 0 °C. The results have been used for the estimation of electron energy distribution and of the mean energy for 30 less-than-or-eq, slant E/p less-than-or-eq, slant 450. It has been shown that at high E/p the distribution becomes strongly anisotropic, the degree of anisotropy being described by a coefficient δ.