Ionic Collision Processes in Gaseous Nitrogen

Abstract

Those collision processes in nitrogen leading to the production of N₃⁺, N₂⁺ and N⁺ are examined. For N₃⁺ production the specific reaction rate as well as the lifetime of the metastable precursor ion are evaluated. Cross‐section measurements for N⁺ production indicate that under the experimental conditions employed collisional dissociation of the molecular ion is the predominant mechanism. The shape of the symmetrical charge‐transfer cross‐section curve obtained here agrees well with that derived from calculations based on the impact parameter treatment for N₂⁺ impact energies above 20 eV. Differences between the experimental and theoretical curves below 20 eV are probably caused by experimental effects.