Ionization by Electron Impact in CO, ${\mathrm{N}}_2$, NO, and ${\mathrm{O}}_2$

Ionization by electron impact in diatomic gases has been studied in this work with a mass spectrometer designed to measure $\frac{m}{e}$, appearance potential, and initial kinetic energy for each ion observed. Results have been obtained for the gases CO, ${\mathrm{N}}_2$, NO, and ${\mathrm{O}}_2$ with some confirmatory work in ${\mathrm{H}}_2$. Discussion is included of the nature and identification of dissociative ionization processes and of the retarding potential and appearance potential measurements. Values of important quantities such as the dissociation energies of CO, ${\mathrm{N}}_2$, and NO; the sublimation energy of C; the electron affinity of O; and the excitation energy of ${\mathrm{O}}^{-}$ are determined again by electron impact in this work.