Electrical properties of D-T gas from 20 to 26 K

The dielectric constants and electrical conductivities of D-T gas at 20, 23, and 26 K have been measured at 1592 Hz from 3 to 200 Vm2 mol-1. Tritium concentrations of 0.9, 8.8, and 98.3% were investigated. Both electrical quantities were found to increase with density and saturate above 400 mol m-3. The gas was found to be a soft dielectric with an electrical conductivity as high as 300 x 10-9 Ω-1. The saturated vapour conducted as well as the liquid beneath it. The total charge density in pure tritium gas was about 1012 mol-1. Most electrons may react to form tritide ions, but the remaining electrons still carried most of the current. (author)