Attachment of low-energy electrons to HCl

The electron-attachment rate constants of HCl diluted in Ar and N2 were measured as a function of the reduced electric field E/N. These data were converted to the electron-attachment cross section of HCl using the electron-energy distribution functions of pure Ar and N2. The dependence of the electron-attachment rate constant and the mean electron energy on the fraction of HCl in each buffer gas was investigated. A comparison of the current result with both available experimental data and theoretical calculations is made.