Monte Carlo calculations of drift velocities and diffusion coefficients of Ar + ions in helium

Abstract

Results are presented for the calculated drift velocities and diffusion coefficients for Ar + ions in helium at atmospheric pressure, temperature T=300 K and for reduced electric fields E/ N from about 1 Td up to about 150 Td, using Monte Carlo techniques. The drift velocities range from 5.94×10 3 to 559.0×10 3 cm s −1 for the Ar + ions in the ground state 2P 3/2 and from 5.85×10 3 to 545.0×10 3 cm s −1 for the Ar + ions in the metastable excited state 2P 1/2. These values are in good agreement (within about 5%) with the few experimental values available. The mobilities and diffusion coefficients for atomic Ar + ions in helium gas show no significant dependence on the spin state of the ion.