A simple method for measuring electron drift velocity in gases using grid ionization chamber

Qingmin Zhang; Haizheng Chen; Ruirui Fan; Han Yi; Keqing Gao; Zhuang Shao; Guangyou Wei

doi:10.1016/j.apradiso.2020.109496

A simple method for measuring electron drift velocity in gases using grid ionization chamber

Appl Radiat Isot. 2021 Feb:168:109496. doi: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2020.109496. Epub 2020 Nov 24.

Authors

Qingmin Zhang¹, Haizheng Chen², Ruirui Fan³, Han Yi³, Keqing Gao⁴, Zhuang Shao⁴, Guangyou Wei⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Nuclear Science and Technology, School of Energy and Power Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, China; Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Advanced Nuclear Energy and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, China; Shaanxi Engineering Research Center of Advanced Nuclear Energy, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, China. Electronic address: zhangqingmin@mail.xjtu.edu.cn.
² Department of Nuclear Science and Technology, School of Energy and Power Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, China. Electronic address: b1147119500@stu.xjtu.edu.cn.
³ Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing, 100049, China; Spallation Neutron Source Science Center, Dongguan, 523803, China.
⁴ Department of Nuclear Science and Technology, School of Energy and Power Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, China.

PMID: 33290997
DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2020.109496

Abstract

A simple method for measuring the electron drift velocity in gases with a given electric field using a grid ionization chamber is proposed and demonstrated. By collimating incident α particles that are perpendicular to the electric field, the drift velocity can be derived easily using the electron drift distance from primary ionization to a grid divided by the time interval between the cathode and anode signal starting times. These experimental settings can avoid additional signal processing of signals and reduce the effect of electron diffusion. Using this method, the measurement of electron drift velocities in 90% Ar + 10% CO₂ is presented. Measured results agree well with the simulated values and with existing experimental results.

Keywords: Drift distance; Electron drift velocity; Grid ionization chamber; Time interval between cathode and anode signals.