Abstract
IF electrons move through a gas in an electric field, their number can increase if they ionize gas molecules by collision—the well-known Townsend avalanche. Recently, it has been shown1 that in high-frequency electric fields at very low pressures the number of electrons increases, due to the impinging of electrons on the walls of the vessel and the release of secondary electrons. This is a ‘wall multiplication’ process which can lead to breakdown.
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
References
Gill, E. W. B., and von Engel, A., Proc. Roy. Soc., 192, 446 (1948).
Gill, E. W. B., and von Engel, A., Proc. Roy. Soc., 197, 107 (1949).
Kenty, C., Phys. Rev., 44, 891 (1933). Dorrestein, R., Physica, 9, 457 (1942).
Bothe, W., in “Hdb. d. Phys.”, 23/2, 40 (1933). See also, Sommermeyer, K., Ann. d. Phys., 13, 315 (1932).
Kruithof, A. A., and Penning, F. M., Physica, 5, 203 (1938).
Llewellyn Jones, F., et al., Proc. Roy. Soc., 213, 185 and 203 (1952).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
HARRIES, W., VON ENGEL, A. A New Electron Multiplication Process. Nature 171, 517 (1953). https://doi.org/10.1038/171517a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/171517a0
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.