Electron-Cs+-ion recombination in the presence of neutral helium atoms

Abstract

Three-body neutral stabilized recombination has been studied in a pulsed discharge afterglow apparatus. The rate coefficient of the He stabilized recombination reaction ${\mathrm{Cs}}^{+}+e+\mathrm{He}\to \mathrm{Cs}+\mathrm{He}$ at 625°K is deduced to be less than ${10}^{-28\mathrm{}}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^6$ ${\sec }^{-1\mathrm{}}$, with the most probable value being 4×${10}^{-29\mathrm{}}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^6$ ${\sec }^{-1\mathrm{}}$. Since this value is much lower than that obtained for the recombination of ${\mathrm{He}}_2^{+}$ by the same mechanism, it suggests that the efficiency of the three-body neutral stabilized recombination process depends sensitively upon the atomic or molecular nature of the recombining ion.