Foundations and interpretations of the pulsed-Townsend experiment

M Casey, Peter Stokes, Daniel G Cocks, Danko Bošnjaković, Ilija Simonović, Michael Brunger, Saša Dujko, Zoran Petrović, Robert Robson, Ronald White

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Citations (Scopus)
54 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Abstract: The pulsed-Townsend (PT) experiment is a well known swarm technique used to measure transport properties from a current in an external circuit, the analysis of which is based on the governing equation of continuity. In this paper, the Brambring representation (1964 Z. Phys. 179 532) of the equation of continuity often used to analyse the PT experiment, is shown to be fundamentally flawed when non-conservative processes are operative. The Brambring representation of the continuity equation is not derivable from Boltzmann’s equation and consequently transport properties defined within the framework are not clearly representable in terms of the phase-space distribution function. We present a re-analysis of the PT experiment in terms of the standard diffusion equation which has firm kinetic theory foundations, furnishing an expression for the current measured by the PT experiment in terms of the universal bulk transport coefficients (net ionisation rate, bulk drift velocity and bulk longitudinal diffusion coefficient). Furthermore, a relationship between the transport properties previously extracted from the PT experiment using the Brambring representation, and the universal bulk transport coefficients is presented. The validity of the relationship is tested for two gases Ar and SF6, highlighting also estimates of the differences.
Original languageEnglish
Article number 035017
Pages (from-to)035017
Number of pages11
JournalPlasma Sources Science and Technology
Volume30
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished (in print/issue) - 1 Mar 2021

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 The Author(s). Published by IOP Publishing Ltd.

Keywords

  • pulsed townsend experiment
  • Brambring’s equation
  • kinetic theory
  • pulsed townsend governing equation
  • transport coeffcient defnition
  • Brambring's equation
  • Paper
  • transport coefficient definition
  • Brambring s equation
  • Brambring&apos
  • s equation

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Foundations and interpretations of the pulsed-Townsend experiment'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this