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Dissociation rate of molecular hydrogen in highly ionized, low-temperature plasmas

Journal Article · · Sov. Phys. - Tech. Phys. (Engl. Transl.); (United States)
OSTI ID:5079809
The rate of stepwise dissociation of molecular hydrogen is calculated for plasmas with degrees of ionization ..beta.. = 10/sup -4/ -- 1. For ..beta..< or approx. =10/sup -3/ dissociation is primarily caused by electron-impact excitation and V--V exchange. For ..beta..> or approx. =10/sup -2/ dissociation is caused solely by electron-impact excitation of vibrational states and the rate of dissociation is given by GAMMA/sub d/ = K/sub d//sup e/ n/sub e/ N/sub H2/, where K/sup e//sub d/ is determined by the electron temperature T/sub e/. The dependence of GAMMA/sub d/ on the temperatures of the plasma components and on the degree of dissociation is discussed. The rate of recombination of atoms into hydrogen molecules is estimated.
Research Organization:
A. F. Ioffe Physicotechnical Institute, Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Leningrad
OSTI ID:
5079809
Journal Information:
Sov. Phys. - Tech. Phys. (Engl. Transl.); (United States), Journal Name: Sov. Phys. - Tech. Phys. (Engl. Transl.); (United States) Vol. 27:1; ISSN SPTPA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English