Effect of an external electric field on the yield of free ions. II The initial distribution of ion pairs in liquid hydrocarbons

Abstract

In this paper initial-distribution-averaged escape probability has been calculated for a variety of compounds using the procedure developed in the preceding paper. The present method allows computation at any external field strength and temperature although the possible effect of very high external fields on the initial distribution of the ion pairs has been ignored. It has been found that no unique form of distribution function is the ``best'' under all circumstances even though in many cases an exponential or a Gaussian form suffices. An extended initial distribution function tends to reduce the ``temperature inversion effect,'' i.e., the decrease of escape probability with temperature at high fields. Nevertheless at suitably high fields the escape probability averaged over several distribution functions is predicted to be relatively insensitive to temperature over a wide range; such an effect should be observable.