Effect of Electric Fields on the Decomposition of Nitrous Oxide by Alpha-Rays

Abstract

Ion yields expressed in molecules of gaseous products uncondensed by liquid air, per ion pair are 30∘no field4.35half−saturation4.15full saturation4.61100∘no field4.75half−saturation4.65full saturation5.76.If these results are interpreted on the assumption that ions are neutralized at the electrodes without decomposition, then it follows that in the absence of an electric field, 9 percent of the reaction, is initiated by combination of ions at 30°C, and 4 percent of the reaction is so initiated at 100°C. The increase in ion yield at high field strength is probably due to electron collisions with molecules. As this occurs at field strengths at which the current-field strength curve is horizontal, the new reaction is not initiated by ionization. Therefore, as the major part of the energy of alpha-rays remains in the primarily ejected electrons, electron collisions without ionization should initiate part of the reaction occurring in the absence of electric fields.