Mobility of the positive and negative ions in gases at high pressure

Abstract

The velocity of ions in gases at reduced pressures was first investigated by Rutherford and by Langevin. Recently the author and others have carried out similar investigations. The results of these investigations show that for the negative ions in air the product of the mobility and the pressure is constant for pressures ranging from 760 mm. to 200 mm. of mercury, but with further reduction the product increases with the reduction of pressure, this increase becoming very great at low pressures. For the positive ions in air the product of the mobility and pressure is constant for pressures investigated between 760 mm. and 3 mm. of mercury. Similar results were obtained for the mobilities of the ions in other gases. The results show that if the ion is an aggregation of molecules, this aggregation becomes, at low pressures, less complex in the ease of the negative ion, while in the ease of the positive ion it persists down to 3 mm. of mercury. The purpose of the present research was the study of the mobilities of both kinds of ions in gases at high pressures. The method of investigation is based on the mathematical expression, developed by Prof. Rutherford, for the current between two plates, assuming that a very intense ionisation exists near the surface of one of the electrodes.