Accession Number:

AD0829122

Title:

ATTACHMENT AND RECOMBINATION PROCESSES IN ATMOSPHERIC GASES.

Descriptive Note:

Rept. for 1 Jul 65-31 Jul 67,

Corporate Author:

GENERAL DYNAMICS SAN DIEGO CA GENERAL ATOMIC DIV

Personal Author(s):

• Wyatt, M. E.
• Denson, R.

Report Date:

1968-02-01

Pagination or Media Count:

119.0

Abstract:

Experiments were performed to measure the coefficients for electron attachment and electron-ion recombination in important atmospheric gases and atmospheric impurities in the temperature range of 180 to 700K. These experiments were performed using microwave transmission techniques on an afterglow produced by relativistic electrons traversing the gas sample. A mass spectrometer was used to identify the ions present in the afterglow. Electron thermalization and collision frequency for momentum transfer were also measured. Gases studied are oxygen, nitrogen, nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, nitrous oxide, and carbon dioxide. In the gas pressures used in these experiments 10 torr electron-ion recombination to the dominant agglomerated ions was found to produce electron generating and heating in the afterflow which was probably caused by inelastable molecular species formed by the recombination process. Electron attachment to NO2 was found to be affected by neutral molecule reactions, and previous values for the attachment coefficient were lowered. Author

Descriptors:

• (*ATMOSPHERES
• CHEMICAL REACTIONS)
• (*AFTERGLOWS
• CHEMICAL REACTIONS)
• GAS IONIZATION
• ELECTRON CAPTURE
• RECOMBINATION REACTIONS
• MASS SPECTROSCOPY
• OXYGEN
• NITROGEN
• NITROGEN OXIDES
• CARBON DIOXIDE
• GAS DISCHARGES
• MICROWAVE FREQUENCY
• COMPUTER PROGRAMS

Subject Categories:

• Atmospheric Physics
• Inorganic Chemistry

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE