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Kinetic-energy Distributions of Positive and Negative Ions in Townsend Discharges in Oxygen

Published

Author(s)

MVVS. Rao, Richard J. Van Brunt, James K. Olthoff

Abstract

Translational flux-energy distributions of positive and negative ions have been measured at high electric field-to-gas density ratios (E/N) up to 40 x 10-18 V m2 (40 kTd) in diffuse, parallel-plate Townsend discharges in oxygen using an ion energy analyzer-mass spectrometer. The O2+ ion is the most abundant ion detected in the discharge, and exhibits Maxwellian energy distributions for E/N < 20 x 10 -18 V m2, which is consistent with predictions based upon the assumption that resonant symmetric charge exchange is the dominant ion-molecule collision process. The less abundant ions, O+, O2-, and O-, exhibit non-Mawellian ion kinetic energy distributions at nearly all E/N, indicative of multiple ion-molecule reactions affecting the ion transport. Mean energies are obtained for each ion as a function of E/N from analysis of the energy distributions, and symmetric charge-exchange cross sections are calculated from the data where appropriate.
Citation
Physical Review E (Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics)
Volume
59
Issue
4

Keywords

cross-sections, ion-molecule reactions, kinetic-energy distributions, O2, oxygen, Townsend discharge

Citation

Rao, M. , Van Brunt, R. and Olthoff, J. (1999), Kinetic-energy Distributions of Positive and Negative Ions in Townsend Discharges in Oxygen, Physical Review E (Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics), [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=6288 (Accessed October 8, 2025)

Issues

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Created March 31, 1999, Updated October 12, 2021
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