Measurement of Electron Swarm Parameters in Nitrous Oxide

This study has measured the density-normalized effective ionization coe±cients (α-η)/N, the electron drift velocity Ve and the diffusion coefficient DL in nitrous oxide (N₂O) using a pulsed Townsend technique. The range of the overall density-normalized electric field strength E/N is from 100 Td to 400 Td (1 Td=10^-17 V• cm²). From the above plots of (α-η)/N, we have derived the limiting field strength, (E/N)lim ≈ 150 Td, which is the value of E=N at which (α-η)/N=0.