New values of α/ p0 in pure neon obtained with the luminous-flux method

Abstract

In this contribution we report on the “luminous-flux method” for the determination of Towns-end's primary ionization coefficient α. This method gives α directly without the interference of the secondary coefficient γ that may be, due to various effects, a function of the electrode distance. The method mentioned makes questionable the results obtained in pure neon with the classical current-growth method. We discuss the difference in the values of α obtained by these methods. Finally, by table and graph, we give the classical as well as the new values of α, i.e. the well known results obtained by Kruithof and Penning and by Chanin and Rork, and 46 average values of α obtained with the luminous-flux method in the range of the reduced field strength E/ p 0 from 5.5 up to 484 V cm -1 torr -1.