Thermometric Study of the Frozen Products from the Nitrogen Microwave Discharge

Abstract

Thermometric observations have been made of the phenomena accompanying the stabilization and the recombination of free nitrogen atoms in a solid molecular nitrogen matrix at liquid helium temperatures. Condensation from the gas phase may occur at temperatures considerably above the 4.2°K coolant temperature as the result of the normal change in heat content and the heat of atom recombination. Estimates, made from the latter effects, of the free atom concentration in the gas phase were as high as 4 atom %. Qualitative confirmation of the presence of an energetic species stabilized in the solid phase was made by detection of heat release upon warmup. From the latter effect a minimum nitrogen atom concentration in the solid of 0.03 atom % was estimated. For the conditions used the initiation of atom recombination occurs at a temperature of about 9°K. The upper limit of about 36°K for stabilization coincides with the known thermal transition in solid nitrogen. The data suggest that at least above 9°K diffusion of nitrogen atoms occurs throughout the solid matrix during deposition from the gas phase. If recombination during warmup is diffusion‐controlled, unusual dependence upon temperature is indicated.