Ion-molecule reaction rate studies in a flowing afterglow system

Abstract

A steady-state flowing afterglow has been utilized to measure the rate coefficients for the following reactions: He⁺+ N₂→ N⁺; N⁺ ₂; He., He⁺+ O₂→ O⁺; O⁺ ₂; He., N⁺ ₂+ O₂→ O⁺ ₂; N₂., N⁺+ O₂→ NO⁺; O⁺ ₂; N. The data have been analyzed both with regard to the decay of the parent ion and the changing ratio of the product to parent ion with increasing reactant addition or reaction time. The experimental conditions have been varied over a limited range of pressures and flow velocities in order to minimize any systematic errors associated with a single method of data analysis. The resulting rate coefficients are consistent and agree well with previous estimates for these reactions.