Effect of Electric Fields on the Decomposition of Nitrous Oxide by Alpha-Rays

Abstract

Ion yields expressed in molecules of gaseous products uncondensed by liquid air, per ion pair are $$\begin{array}{ccc}{30}^{\circ }& \mathrm{no\; field}& \text{4.35}\\ & \mathrm{half-saturation}& \text{4.15}\\ & \mathrm{full\; saturation}& \text{4.61}\\ {100}^{\circ }& \mathrm{no\; field}& \text{4.75}\\ & \mathrm{half-saturation}& \text{4.65}\\ & \mathrm{full\; saturation}& \text{5.76.}\end{array}$$ If these results are interpreted on the assumption that ions are neutralized at the electrodes without decomposition, then it follows that in the absence of an electric field, 9 percent of the reaction, is initiated by combination of ions at 30°C, and 4 percent of the reaction is so initiated at 100°C. The increase in ion yield at high field strength is probably due to electron collisions with molecules. As this occurs at field strengths at which the current‐field strength curve is horizontal, the new reaction is not initiated by ionization. Therefore, as the major part of the energy of alpha‐rays remains in the primarily ejected electrons, electron collisions without ionization should initiate part of the reaction occurring in the absence of electric fields.