A buffer gas adds pressure to a system and controls the speed of combustion with any oxygen present.
A buffer gas usually consists of atomically inert gases such as helium,[1][2] argon, or nitrogen.
Buffer gases are commonly used in many applications from high pressure discharge lamps to reduce line width of microwave transitions in alkali atoms.
[citation needed] In this case the buffer gas acts in a way much like oil does in an automotive engine's bearings.
Buffer gas loading techniques have been developed for use in cooling charged or paramagnetic atoms and molecules at ultra-cold temperatures.
Of the two isotopes of helium (3He and 4He), the rarer 3He is sometimes used over 4He as it provides significantly higher vapor pressures and buffer gas density at sub-kelvin temperatures.