On the Forces Between Positive Ions and Neutral Molecules

In theories of the mobilities of ions in gases a rather precise knowledge is required of the forces which are called into play when an ion approaches a neutral molecule; for it is by virtue of these forces that ions are deflected from their paths and that their drift along the electric force is impeded. Again, the current question whether ions, in their motion through a gas, form “clusters”, that is, whether they surround themselves by one or even more layers of neutral molecules, can be decided theoretically only on the basis of a rather precise knowledge of the interactions.