The model dependence of the ionisation rate of hydrogen in a uniform electric field

Abstract

The model dependence of the calculated field ionisation rate of hydrogen is presented. The importance of correctly treating both the Coulomb field of the proton and the three dimensionality of the problem is demonstrated. A new, accurate, analytic method for field ionisation rate calculation is derived and justified. This method may be developed for systems more complicated than the hydrogen atom in a uniform field such as field ionisation of gas atoms near a metal surface or post-ionisation. Previous uniform field ionisation rate calculations for hydrogen are discussed and an explanation of errors in some of these is given.