Penning-Trap Technique for Studying Electron-Atom Collisions at Low Energy

Abstract

In a new technique for studying electron collisions, the electrons are confined by electromagnetic fields and exposed to a known low density of atoms or molecules. Collisions rates are measured by electron diffusion in the trap. The use of spin-oriented atoms allows triplet and singlet contributions to be separated. Results of such studies are reported for room-temperature collisions of electrons with potassium atoms and with nitrogen molecules.