Electron Capture and Loss Cross Sections for Protons Passing through Air

Abstract

Measurements have been made of the electron-loss cross section ${\sigma }_1$ and the electron-capture cross section ${\sigma }_c$ for hydrogen beams in air. ${\sigma }_1$ varied from 24.4×${10}^{-17\mathrm{}}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^2$ at 40.8 kv to 13.6×${10}^{-17\mathrm{}}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^2$ at 325 kv. ${\sigma }_c$ varied from 20.8×${10}^{-17\mathrm{}}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^2$ at 31.4 kv to 2.7×${10}^{-17\mathrm{}}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^2$ at 122 kv. In the ranges quoted, the cross sections were well represented by the formulas,