MOLECULAR EXCITATION OF HYDROGEN AND NITROGEN FROM ELECTRON SWARM EXPERIMENTS.
Abstract
The energy distribution function of electrons in hydrogen and in nitrogen at 77 and 300K has been computed at values of the applied field to pressure ratio such that rotational excitation is the dominant energy loss process. The discrete nature of the energy loss occurring in a rotational excitation collision was included in the theory, as were collisions of the second kind with thermally excited molecules. The resulting values of drift velocity and characteristic energy, D/mu, were compared with the available experimental data, and adjustments made in the assumed curves of momentum transfer and rotational excitation cross section to improve the agreement. Curves are given of momentum transfer cross section vs energy in both gases which yield good agreement between theory and experiment, and conclusions are reached concerning the magnitude of the rotational excitation cross sections. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 24, 1961
- Accession Number
- AD0617744
Entities
People
- Arthur V. Phelps
- L. S. Frost