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Title: Kinetics of Energetic O{sup −} Ions in the Discharge Plasmas of Water Vapor and H{sub 2}O-Containing Mixtures

Journal Article · · Plasma Physics Reports

The process of relaxation of energetic O{sup –} ions formed via dissociative attachment of electrons to molecules in the discharge plasmas of water vapor and H{sub 2}O: O{sub 2} mixtures in a strong electric field is studied by the Monte Carlo method. The probability of energetic ions being involved in threshold ion–molecular processes is calculated. It is shown that several percent of energetic O{sup –} ions formed via electron attachment to H{sub 2}O molecules in the course of plasma thermalization transform into OH{sup –} ions via charge exchange or are destroyed with the formation of free electrons. The probabilities of charge exchange of O{sup –} ions and electron detachment from them increase significantly (up to 90%) when O{sup –} ions are formed via electron attachment to O{sub 2} molecules in water vapor with an oxygen additive. This effect decreases with increasing oxygen fraction in the mixture but remains appreciable even when the fraction of H{sub 2}O molecules in the H{sub 2}O: O{sub 2} mixture does not exceed several percent.

OSTI ID:
22763211
Journal Information:
Plasma Physics Reports, Vol. 44, Issue 10; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2018 Pleiades Publishing, Ltd.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1063-780X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English