VUV photo-ionization parameters and effective mean free path of epithermal photoelectrons in pure non-polar dielectric liquids

VUV photo-ionization spectra of cyclohexane, 2,2 dimethylbutane, tetramethylsilane and polydimethylsiloxane oils were experimentally obtained, using a new experimental set-up. Power laws for photocurrent were observed and photoionization thresholds, confirming our previous data, were deduced. Using a 3-parameter adjustment method and Onsager theory, parameters specific of photoionization process were extracted from curves giving the photocurrent as a function of an applied electric field, at photon excess energies between 0.5 eV and 2 eV above the corresponding ionization thresholds. Assuming the range distribution function of thermalized photoelectrons to be a modified exponential function, called PE3, an effective mean free path along the thermalization path in each liquid was deduced from B₃, the experimental range parameter associated with the range distribution function. These mean free path values, at the epithermal stage, were compared to those of the thermal mean free path of conduction electrons.