Electron swarm parameters in water vapour

Electron swarm parameters, such as the drift velocity and the ionization coefficient, in water vapour have been measured for relatively wide ranges in reduced electric fields (E/N) at room temperature. The drift velocity (Wm) was obtained based upon the arrival-time spectra of electrons by using a double-shutter drift tube for the E/N from 60 to 1000 Td, while the first and second ionization coefficients (alpha and gamma) were determined by the steady-state Townsend method from 50 to 3000 Td. A comparison between the results and other data in the literature shows that our results for both the drift velocity and the effective ionization coefficient are lower than those of the other data in the above ranges.