Ionization distribution near a relativistic particle track in gas

The space distribution of ionization produced by relativistic charged particle around its trajectory is discussed in the framework of photo-absorption ionization model. The mean root square transverse radius of the ionization space distribution shows relativistic rise. The rise is due to relativistic increasing of Cherenkov photon generation. The photons with energy more than the first ionization potential have small but finite range which is typically much more than the range of an electron with the same energy. Calculations illustrating this effect were done using the gas mixture proposed for ALICE LHC time projection chamber.