The Theoretical Evaluation of the Townsend Coefficient a/p For Hydrogen

Abstract

The theoretical evaluation of the first Townsend ionization coefficient x/p (ionizations cm-1 (mm Hg)-l) requires a knowledge of the precise form of the velocity distribution of electrons in the gas. This distribution was determined theoretically by Morse, Allis, and Lamar (1935) for the particular case when only elastic collisions take place in the gas, but its form is not known for the more complex situation when inelastic collision processes also occur.