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Photoionization cross section of atomic and molecular oxygen

Thesis/Dissertation ·
OSTI ID:5014236

Photoionization cross sections of atomic oxygen and dissociative photoionization cross sections of molecular oxygen were measured from their respective thresholds to 120 angstrom by use of a photoionization mass spectrometer in conjunction with a spark light source. The photoionization cross sections O/sub 2//sup +/ parent ion and O/sup +/ fragment ion from neutral O/sup 2/ were obtained by a technique that eliminated the serious problem of identifying the true abundances of O/sup +/ ions. These ions are generally formed with considerable kinetic energy and, because most mass spectrometers discriminate against energetic ions, true O/sup +/ abundances are difficult to obtain. In the present work the relative cross sections for producing O/sup +/ ions are obtained and normalized against the total cross sections in a spectral region where dissociative ionization is not possible. The fragmentation cross sections for O/sup +/ were then obtained by subtraction of O/sub 2//sup +/ cross sections from the known total photoionization cross sections. The results are compared with the previously published measurements. The absolute photoionization cross section of atomic oxygen sigma/sub 8//sub +/ was measured at 304 A. The actual number density of oxygen atoms within the ionization region was obtained by measuring the fraction of 0/sup 2/ molecules dissociated. This sigma/sub +/ at 304 angstrom was used to convert the relative photoinization cross sections, measured as a function of wavelength using a calibrated photodiode, to absolute cross sections. The results are compared with previous measurements and calculated cross sections. angstrom Rydberg series converging to the OII /sup 4/P state was observed.

Research Organization:
Nebraska Univ., Lincoln (USA)
OSTI ID:
5014236
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English