Inference of electron-ion recombination coefficients from microwave-afterglow measurements employing microwave heating of electrons

Thesis/Dissertation · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1986

OSTI ID:7128670

Dulaney, J L

The rates of recombination of NO/sup +/ and O/sub 2//sup +/ x O/sub 2/ dimer ions with electrons as a function of electron temperature were determined using a microwave-afterglowmass-spectrometer apparatus employing microwave heating of electrons. The recombination rates for these ions are of importance for modeling the upper atmosphere. The electron temperature T/sub e/ was found to vary spatially throughout the plasma and an improved data analysis method had to be developed. This data analysis method was used to determine the recombination rate coefficient ..cap alpha... Results of the recombination studies of NO/sup +/ ions with electrons as a function of electron temperature can be represented by a simple power law dependence over the electron temperature range 295 K less than or equal to T/sub e/ less than or equal to 4500 K. The measurement is in agreement with other experimental determinations of ..cap alpha.. (NO/sup +/). Results of the recombination studies of O/sub 2//sup +/ x O/sub 2/ dimer ions with electrons can also be expressed by a power law over a range 143 K less than or equal to T/sub e/ less than or equal to 5500 K. This is the first measurement of the O/sub 2//sup +/ x O/sub 2/ dimer ion recombination rate coefficient at elevated electron temperatures. The room temperature value of the recombination coefficient is consistent with room temperature values for other dimer ions, i.e. approx. 10/sup -6/ cm/sup 3/sec.

• Research Organization: Pittsburgh Univ., PA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 7128670
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640201* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magetospheric Phenomena
640304 -- Atomic
Molecular & Chemical Physics-- Collision Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
AFTERGLOW
CATIONS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHARGED PARTICLES
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTRON TEMPERATURE
ELECTRONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ELEMENTS
FERMIONS
HEATING
IONOSPHERE
IONS
LEPTONS
MICROWAVE HEATING
NITRIC OXIDE
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN OXIDES
NONMETALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
RECOMBINATION