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Title: NH ( X sup 3 @ sup minus , v =1--3) formation and vibrational relaxation in electron-irradiated Ar/N sub 2 /H sub 2 mixtures

Journal Article · · Journal of Chemical Physics; (USA)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.460616· OSTI ID:5881559
; ; ;  [1]; ;  [2]
  1. Geophysics Laboratory (AFSC)/OPI, Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts 01731 (USA)
  2. Physical Sciences Inc., 20 New England Business Center, Andover, Massachusetts 01810 (USA)

Measurements of the dynamics of NH({ital X}{sup 3}{summation}{sup {minus}}, {ital v} =1--3), created in electron-irradiated N{sub 2}/H{sub 2} and Ar/N{sub 2}/H{sub 2} mixtures, have been performed. Time-resolved Fourier spectroscopy was used to observe NH({ital v}{r arrow}{ital v}--1) vibrational fundamental band emission. Time-dependent populations were then determined by spectral fitting. Subsequent kinetic fitting of these populations using a single-quantum relaxation model and a power-law dependence of {ital k}{sub {ital v}} on {ital v} yielded the following NH({ital v} =1--3) relaxation rate constants (units of 10{sup {minus}14} cm{sup 3} s{sup {minus}1}): {ital k}{sub {ital v}=1}(N{sub 2})=1.2{plus minus}0.5, {ital k}{sub {ital v}=2}(N{sub 2})=3.8{plus minus}1.5, {ital k}{sub {ital v}=3}(N{sub 2})=7.5{plus minus}2.5; {ital k}{sub {ital v}=1}(Ar)=0.2{plus minus}0.1, {ital k}{sub {ital v}=2}(Ar)=0.5{plus minus}0.2, {ital k}{sub {ital v}=3}(Ar)=0.8{plus minus}0.3; {ital k}{sub {ital v}=1}(H{sub 2}){le}50, {ital k}{sub {ital v}=2}(H{sub 2}){le}100, {ital k}{sub {ital v}=3}(H{sub 2}){le}150. In addition, the N{sub 2}/H{sub 2} data provided a measurement of the nascent excited vibrational state distribution resulting from the reaction N({sup 2}{ital D})+H{sub 2}{r arrow}NH({ital X},{ital v})+H. The ratio NH(1):NH(2):NH(3) was found to be 1.0:0.97:0.81 ({plus minus}0.28 in each value). Comparison of the observed nascent distribution with that of a statistical model suggests that the ratio NH(0):NH(1)=0.47. Using this derived distribution, we find the average product level {l angle}{ital v}{r angle} =1.6, and the fraction of the available product energy in vibration {l angle}{ital f}{sub {ital v}}{r angle} =0.44.

OSTI ID:
5881559
Journal Information:
Journal of Chemical Physics; (USA), Vol. 94:6; ISSN 0021-9606
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English