Townsend discharge equation

The Townsend discharge equation describes how an electrical voltage causes a gas to become conductive by producing free electrons and ions. When voltage is applied to a gas-filled tube, it accelerates electrons, which then collide with gas molecules, creating more electrons and ions in a chain reaction. This process leads to a rapid increase in current. The equation mathematically relates the voltage, current, and properties of the gas, helping predict when a gas will start conducting electricity and how it will behave during this process. It’s fundamental in understanding phenomena like electrical sparks and plasma generation.