Ionization associated with solid particles in flames

Observations of solid particles in flames which are associated with ionization are analyzed. Results show that while such ionization does occur to a measurable extent, it is frequently associated with and even masked by ionization derived from gaseous material. The volatilization of such material can be a fairly slow process and the dispersion of the vapor by processes of diffusion even slower, so that each particle is marked by a ''meteor trail'' of ionized gas, and even when the particle has volatilized completely, such trail may give the appearance of particulate matter. One result of this microscopic inhomogeneity is that estimates of the evaporation of droplets which assume a uniform distribution of vapor can be grossly in error. (JRD)