Microwave Determination of the Probability of Collision of Electrons in Neon

Abstract

The theory for computing the microwave conductivity of a plasma discussed in the previous paper can be used for determining the collision probability for momentum transfer of slow electrons when the conductivity ratio of a plasma is measured as a function of the applied field. The conditions required for having a pressure independent conductivity ratio and steady state electron energy for a given field are investigated. The convenience of using two independent fields for measuring the conductivity and changing the electron energy is shown. Conductivity ratios measured in the afterglow of a pulsed discharge in a microwave resonant cavity are given for neon and neon contaminated with argon. The collision probability for momentum transfer in neon computed from these data as a function of the electron velocity joins Ramsauer's and Kollath's measurements for higher electron velocities.