Field Ionization of Water

Abstract

The field ionization of water is observed utilizing a mass spectrometer. The existence of H₄O⁺ is confirmed. The energy distributions of the ions are investigated. Under certain conditions the energy distributions form two peaks. The appearance potentials of the polymers H₃O⁺·_nH₂O, $\text{n\hspace{0.17em}=\hspace{0.17em}0, 1, 2, 3,}$ are determined. A model of the condensed layer is proposed which agrees with the observed phenomena.