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Measurements of the O$sup +$ + N$sub 2$ and O$sup +$ + O$sub 2$ reaction rates from 300 $sup 0$K to 2 eV

Journal Article · · J. Chem. Phys., v. 59, no. 7, pp. 3504-3509
OSTI ID:4342492
The rates and energy dependences of the reactions O/sup +/ + N/sub 2/ yields NO/ sup +/ + N and O/sup +/ + O/sub 2/ -- O + O/sub 2/+ have been studied in a drift tube/mass spectrometer apparatus. At 300 deg K rate coefficients of (1.2 plus or minus 0.2); x 10/sup -12/ and (2.0 plus or minus 0.2) x 10 /sup - 11/ cm/sup 3//sec reactions with N/sub 2/ and O/sub 2/, respectively. The rate coefficients at 300 deg K and their variation with ion energy are in satisfactory agreement with previous results of flowing afterglow studies carried out at temperatures up to 600 deg K. At ion energies above ~ 0.15 eV for O/sup +/ + N/sub 2/ and ~ 0.25 eV for O/sup +/ + O/sub 2/ the rates are observed to increase sharply, a behavior anticipated on the basis of extrapolations to low energies of ion beam results. Both reactions are of particular importance in converting atomic O/sup +/ ions in the Earth's ionosphere (E and F regions) into molecular ions. The present measurements extend previous rate coefficient determinations to ion energies appropriate to F region conditions (500 deg K < T < 2000 deg K). (auth)
Research Organization:
Department of Physics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260
NSA Number:
NSA-29-022143
OSTI ID:
4342492
Journal Information:
J. Chem. Phys., v. 59, no. 7, pp. 3504-3509, Journal Name: J. Chem. Phys., v. 59, no. 7, pp. 3504-3509; ISSN JCPSA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English