Chemical Dynamics of State-Selected Atomic and Diatomic Ions of Aerospace Relevance

The main goal of the previous project was to determine absolute state-selected integral cross-sections for reactions between atmospheric diatomic ions and the rare gas atoms, with an emphasis on the reactions of reactant ions in highly vibrationally excited states. These state-selected absolute total cross section measurements are needed for improving the Direct Simulation Monte Carlo and Particles in Cell methods, which have been used for modeling the chemistry occurring in non-equilibrium aerospace environments of interest to the Air Force such as the hypersonic air plasma associated with communications blackouts of reentry space vehicles and the plasmas of electric propulsion thrusters.