Ionization of Helium Gas with a Tungsten Tip

The ionization of a helium atom was investigated as a function of gas pressure, with the use of a tungsten tip. The tungsten tip, to which the external voltage was applied, was used to generate a constant electron current. The ionization current of helium gas was measured as a function of gas pressure. Effective ionization occurred in the pressure range of 0.5-20 torr when the distance between the field emission tip and the collector was 1 cm. The ionization current was linearly proportional to the voltage that was applied to the tungsten tip.