Drift velocities and characteristic energies of electrons in deuterium at low and moderate E/N

The measurements of the drift velocities and characteristic energies of electrons in deuterium are presented. Drift velocities are obtained between 3 and 125 Td by a standard Bradbury-Nielsen technique with a double set of shutters. The characteristic energy for the transverse diffusion was measured by a standard townsend-Huxley technique to be between 3 and 1000 Td. The drift velocities and characteristic energies are in good agreement with the best available data in the range of overlap and extend the availability of the experimental data to higher E/N. The predictions based on the best available cross section sets do not match the experimental results at higher E/N above the limits of the previously available data. (Author)