ionointipiste

Ionointipiste (Finnish: ionization point) is a term used in Finnish scientific literature to refer to the point at which atoms or molecules become ionized under an input of energy or electric field. The term can describe either the energy threshold needed to remove an electron, or the spatial region in a device or medium where ionization takes place.

In chemistry and physics, the ionization point is closely related to the ionization potential of a species and to the rate of ion production. In gases, ionization points are reached when the energy input per particle exceeds the ionization energy, leading to free ions and electrons. In plasmas, the ionization point may describe a front propagating through neutral gas as ionization increases.

In instruments, ionointipiste often refers to the location where ionization occurs, such as in the ion source of a mass spectrometer (electron impact, chemical ionization, electrospray) or in an ionization chamber used for radiation detectors. The exact point depends on the technology and operating conditions, including gas composition, pressure, temperature, and applied electric or magnetic fields.

Factors influencing the ionization point include the ionization energy of the species, cross sections for the ionization process, photon flux in photoionization, electron energy distribution in electron impact ionization, and the ambient conditions in a detector or plasma system.

See also: Ionization energy, Ionization chamber, Mass spectrometry, Photoionization, Electron impact ionization, Ionization front.