This book is about the drift, diffusion, and reaction of ions moving through gases under the influence of an external electric field, the gas temperature, and the number density. While this field was established late in the 19 th century, experimental and theoretical studies of ion and electron swarms continue to be important in such varied fields as atomic and molecular physics, aeronomy and atmospheric chemistry, gaseous electronics, plasma processing, and laser physics. This book follows in the rigorous tradition of well-known older books on the subject, while at the same time providing a much-needed overview of modern developments with a focus on theory. Graduate students and researchers new to this field will find this book an indispensable guide, particularly those involved with ion mobility spectrometry and the use of ion transport coefficients to test and improve ab initio ion-neutral interaction potentials. Established researchers and academics will find in this booka modern companion to the classic references.

Represents an updated survey of the field, including modern theories and techniques Introduces high-level mathematics gradually, through a historical survey of the field Describes both precise and approximation techniques and the contexts in which one may be more practical than the other Surveys types of apparatus used in this research area

Autorentext
Larry Viehland has been a Professor of Chemistry in the Department of Science at Chatham University since 1999, and was Chair of the Department of Science from 1999 to 2015. He previously held positions at Saint Louis University and Brown University, in addition to numerous visiting professorships around the world, following the completion of his PhD at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His research is concerned with the development and application of kinetic theories that accurately describe the transport and reaction-rate coefficients of ions in gases and with developing and testing ion-neutral interaction potentials.

Inhalt
Preface.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Experiments and Elementary Theory.- 3 Momentum-Transfer Theory.- 4 The Boltzmann Equation.- 5 Moment Methods for Solving the Boltzmann Equation.- 6 Gram--Charlier Approach to Ion-Molecule Reactions.- 7 Connections with Atomic Ion-Atom Interaction Potentials.- 8 Molecular Ion and Neutrals.- 9 Summary and Prognosis.- Appendix: Mathematics.- Index. <p