Saturation curve in gases of high atomic number at pressures up to 8 atm. I. Krypton and xenon.

The saturation curve has been studied in xenon and in krypton up to a pressure of 8 atm. An empirical formula has been found that describes the fraction of current collected over a wide range of voltages, pressures, ionization intensities, and electrode spacings. This is of practical value in the design of ionography chambers. For krypton the collection fraction fKr = (1 + 0.25eta-1.74)-1, and for xenon fXe = (1 + 0.16eta-1.88)-1, where eta = Fp-0.7Vd-2q-1/2 with F = 3.61 X 10(-7) and 2.50 X 10(-7) for krypton and xenon, respectively. The ranges of the variables covered in the experiments were p = 1-8 atm, V = 5-25000 V, d = 0.3-1.3 cm, and q = 4 X 10(-9)-6 X 10(-8) A/cm3.