Abstract
A new definition of virtual drift velocity of non-conservative electron swarm in configuration space Wr′ is proposed using flight time integral (FTI) expression in pulsed Townsend (PT). Its appropriateness is shown with the agreement of ionization coefficient defined in PT αP=νiP⁄Wr′ and the Townsend’s first ionization coefficient defined in steady state Townsend (SST) αS. An exact drift velocity measurement of non-conservative electron swarm in configuration space will give Wr′, and the analysis using the drift velocity data will give correct collision cross sections when the definition of Wr′ is used. In addition, the features of the energy distributions and transport coefficients in three observation modes, time of flight (TOF), PT and SST under non-conservative condition are discussed in this paper in relation with the energy conservation in respective modes.
