The Production of Secondary Electrons by Argon Positive Ions and by Argon Atoms

Abstract

Argon positive ions with energies up to 150 equivalent volts were found to be very inefficient in producing secondary electrons (from a lamp-blacked nickel collector) as compared with argon atoms of equal kinetic energy. The efficiency of production by these atoms, which were probably in metastable states, was approximately 3.5 percent. It is concluded that positive ions, as such, play little or no part in the production of electrons necessary for the maintenance of a cold cathode discharge in gases.