Density Expansion for the Mobility of Electrons in Helium Gas

TL;DR

This paper presents a second-order density expansion calculation of electron mobility in Helium gas using a quantum Lorentz model, enabling experimental observation of the logarithmic term in the density expansion.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed second-order theoretical calculation of electron mobility in Helium gas and predicts conditions for experimental detection of the logarithmic term.

Findings

Second-order density expansion accurately models electron mobility.

Predictions specify parameter ranges for experimental observation.

The logarithmic term in the density expansion is experimentally accessible.

Abstract

We calculate the electron mobility for a quantum Lorentz model, which provides a realistic description of electrons in Helium gas, to second order in the gas density. We show that this provides sufficient theoretical information to allow for an experimental observation of the famous logarithmic term in the density expansion. Detailed predictions, and a discussion of a suitable parameter range, for such an experiment are given.