PENNING IONIZATION TERNARY GAS MIXTURES FOR DIFFUSE DISCHARGE SWITCHING APPLICATIONS.

The increase in the total ionization produced by high-energy alpha particles in Ar/C//2 F//6 mixtures (which have conduction and insulation properties appropriate for use in diffuse-discharge-switching applications) by addition of low-ionization-energy additives has been quantitatively studied. The energy to produce an electron-ion pair (ip), W, in C//2 F//6 was found to be 34. 7 eV/ip; this rather high value is attributed to the large cross section for electron impact-induced dissociation of C//2 F//6 . The W values of Ar/C//2 F//6 mixtures have also been measured and are reported; they increase with increasing C//2 F//6 content. The W values of Ar/C//2 F//6 binary gas mixtures have been found to decrease - higher total ionization - by addition of C//2 H//2 or 2-C//4 H//8 . Measurements of the W values of the ternary gas mixtures are reported. The amounts of C//2 H//2 or 2-C//4 H//8 in Ar/C//2 F//6 which maximize the increase in total ionization have been estimated; some of these ternary gas mixtures may be useful in e-beam sustained diffuse-discharge switches.