MOTION OF GASEOUS IONS IN STRONG ELECTRIC FIELDS 223 



in second approximation, using (79) and (80) 



s''' 



{wf^ = 2.3858 (83c) 



and in third approximation, using (79), and (80) and (81) 



(83d) 



Appearances indicate strongly that the sequence (83) for (w) approaches 

 a limit which one would guess to be 



(w) = 2.3865 (84) 



More evidence that the conclusion drawn is correct can be obtained 

 by using the set of trial functions 



ho{w) = pKo(w) + qe'"" + rwe~'^ 



We find then the following sequence of values for (w). 



{wf^ = 2.546 (wf^ = 2.395 {wf^ = 2.388 



This descending sequence confirms (84) by approaching this same value 

 from above. 



Further evidence for the correctness of the procedure can be obtanied 

 by deriving a function hiw) from the Monte Carlo function /i(w) dis- 

 cussed in Section IID and comparing it with our trial function. The 

 function was constructed by covering Fig. 13 with a grid of concentric 



