Transport Model for Converting Charged Species in Drift Tubes

Abstract

The three-dimensional transport equations of converting charged species are solved, taking into consideration the effect of the following for both primary and secondary species: different electron and/or ion temperatures, different initial radial distributions, an absorbing drift-tube wall, and the distinction between radial and axial diffusion coefficients. The solution bears explicit dependence on all the relevant geometries of the drift-tube assembly, making it applicable to all known types of drift-tube arrangements. Three realistic initial charge distributions are considered. Remaining inadequacies of this transport model are critically examined.