Experimental results of the efficiency of current-limited spark chambers as a function of pulse delay are described for various types of chamber. These results are presented partially for their direct application to extensive air shower research, but primarily with a view to clarifying the spark mechanism operative in these chambers. A phenomenological theory describing the efficiency-pulse delay relationship is derived and compared with the experimental data. The results of this comparison are discussed and their relevance to a theory of the spark mechanism emphasized.
A technique for simulating charged particle tracks in spark chambers is described. The method is extremely versatile, and several of its applications are outlined. The technique depends on the production of long-range ultraviolet photons in a spark. The mean free path of these photons in a neon-helium gas mixture is measured as 9·0 cm.
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