Spatial distribution of energy deposited in nitrogen by electrons

The spatial distribution of the energy deposited by kilovolt electrons moving through gaseous molecular nitrogen was measured. The range of electrons of initial energy 300 eV to 5 keV was obtained and can be expressed by the formula R=K1+K2EA1−K3EA2, where R is the range, E is the initial energy of the electrons, and Ki,Ai are constants. The range, in this energy interval, is greater than that determined by previous measurements. A source of error, not previously discussed, is considered. The energy region (above 1 keV) where the simpler expression R=KEA holds is discussed. It is shown that this is the energy region where the energy and range dependence of the energy deposition curve can be removed and a normalized, characteristic energy deposition curve λ can be obtained. The efficiency of conversion of electron energy at 1 keV and 280 μ pressure to energy of photons at 3914 Å was measured to be (0.28±0.03) %.