The behavior of low velocity electrons in methane gas

Abstract

The radiation and ionization potentials of most of the monatomic vapors have been determined(2) experimentally. The natural extension of such research would be the determination of these constants for molecules. The simple molecule hydrogen has been investigated extensively(3) and the results can be reasonably well interpreted in terms of modern atomistics. When atoms and molecules for which no spectroscopic data exists are investigated by the current-potential method, it must be born in mind that not only a radiation-potential but also the phenomenon of transparency as known in argon(4) gives a maximum in the current-potential curves as shown by Minkowski and Sponer in a three-electrode tube. Hence in interpreting results obtained by the current-potential method the occurrence of a maximum cannot be taken as conclusive evidence of a radiation potential.(5)