Abstract
The emission of light from the tracks of α-particles in the gases argon, helium, nitrogen and methane has been studied using a photomultiplier. The specific emission along the track has been measured together with the total number of photons which are produced in the range 3000-6000 A. The total number of emitted photons is found to be independent of pressure in the monatomic gases argon and helium, but varies with pressure in nitrogen and in mixtures of methane with argon or helium. The variation with pressure is explained by a simple theory of quenching by collision. The lifetime of the excited states responsible for the emission is estimated to be less than 10-6 second. The recombination of the ions is shown to play no appreciable part in the production of the photons.
Published Version
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